Rama: Cebu City’s P500M proposal for 93-1 lots stays

CEBU, Philippines- Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama stands firm on the city’s proposal to pay P500 million for the province-owned lots in the city that are occupied by city residents.

This after Board Member Grecilda Sanchez, head of the Provincial Board’s committee on provincial and municipal properties, said the P500 million offer of the city may not be enough.

The Provincial Board reportedly sent a counter-proposal to the city government, which spelled out the cost it wants to have on the lots, which totals 51 hectares.

The lots, covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1, are subdivided to at least 4,364 home lots in 11 barangays in Cebu City, including Kamputhaw, Capitol Site, Kalunasan, Busay, Luz, Lahug, Mabolo, Apas, Lorega, Kasambagan, and Tejero.

Rama, however, said he has not received nor read the counter-proposal.

“I was not expecting a counter proposal,” he said.

The city government recently forwarded the proposed memorandum of agreement between the city and the province.

Under the MOA, the city proposed to pay an initial P100 million for the lots and pay the remaining P400 million once the certificates of title for all lots will be transferred to its name.

Rama said all accounts stated in the MOA were those agreed upon during the consultative meetings with Governor Hilario Davide III, former Cebu Governor Vicente “Tingting” de la Serna, Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, and the city’s Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor head Collin Rosell.

“I hope that parties will be in good faith, that politics should not be part of this,” Rama said, adding, that there is no need to change the proposal.

Rama said the MOA also stipulates that the Cebu City government – with the concurrence of the City Council – will turn over to the Province of Cebu the city-owned properties filled with occupants located in the Province of Cebu. These city-owned lots are in Consolacion, Mandaue City and Talisay City.

“The second party (Cebu City Government), with the participation of the Sangguniang Panlungsod, may in the alternative or as adjunct to this agreement, consider for possible set off or compensation the amount of unpaid balances of the 93-1 transaction to that of the account receivable of the City of Cebu on the mentioned properties, without need of re-appraisal for better valuation as the properties involved are more or less situated similarly,” the proposed MOA reads.

During the consultative meetings attended by Rama and Davide, the former said a land swap was also discussed between these province-owned lots and the city’s property at the South Road Properties with the same cost.

However, Rama said the city decided to just pay for the lots because it has the money to use.

“If we have to change our mind, it affects conviction and it affects manhood,” he added.  (FREEMAN)