Cebu City families finally own lots they bought from province

CEBU, Philippines - Some 12 families in Cebu City finally obtained a deed of absolute sale for the residential lots situated in Barangay Kalunasan they purchased from the province decades ago.

Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III executed yesterday the instrument in the presence of the beneficiaries under the Old Philippine Railway Residents Association (OPRRA).

These are the heirs of Ramon Adarna, Ramon Bacayo, Desiderio Canedo, and families of Erlinda Bulante, Antonio Cornejo, Sulpicia Dayanan, Loreto Garciano and Vitaliana Gorgonio.

The Provincial Board, which granted the governor the authority to enter and sign the deed of absolute sale, through a resolution found that the beneficiaries have complied with the documentary requirements that proved their full payment to the lots being occupied by their families.

The lots measures 1,464 square meters, all in all.

Vivien Biagan, representing the heirs of Cornejo and Villanueva, disclosed that the lot they are occupying was already paid sometime in 1970.

She attributed the delay in obtaining the deed of absolute sale to the lack of documentary requirements. She said the process was being worked on during the time of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia but was not pursued.

In December last year, the Provincial General Services Office (PGSO) made an endorsement to the Provincial Legal Office. The legal office noted that what was attached to the record in each prepared deed of absolute sales was a mere machine copy of the official receipt.

With this, the legal office recommended that the PGSO produce the original copy of the receipts or issue a certification that machine copies of the receipts are “faithful” reproduction of the original.

After the requirements were complied with, the PB gave Davide the go signal to execute the deed of absolute sale.  (FREEMAN)