157 donated lots not in city’s name yet

CEBU, Philippines — Close to 160 donated lots have not been duly transferred to the Cebu City Government’s name.

This is what City Councilor Jerry Guardo, City Councilor committee on infrastructure chairman, revealed to The Freeman yesterday, with the situation starting to create problems with the city implementing road widening or opening.

“Ma-encounter ni namo during road clearing, road opening…. There are donations (of properties whose land titles) …have not been transferred to the Cebu City government,” Guardo said.

“Lahi nang transfer, lahi pud ng deed of donation pa lang…. Kung donation pa lang, mo-argue ang uban nga private property, wala pa ma-transfer,” he added.

Since Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia’s creation of the Land Recovery Council with Guardo as the overseer, it was found out that 157 donations were executed but the titles have not been duly transferred to Cebu City’s name.

“I saw on file that there are more than a hundred deeds of donations nga wala pa ma transfer ang ownership sa City…. Sayangan ko, anugonan ko,” Guardo said.

He said he does not have the exact value of these donated lots, but guessed that they could be worth billions of pesos already.

He said they are now working on addressing the situation. He would also come up with an ordinance to likewise cure the matter.

“Mao niy among gi-work out karon…Also, I am set to file an ordinance para ma-empower gyud bitaw, Kay akong nakita sa City Hall gud karon, walay proper documentation,” the councilor said.

He said all donations should be filed under the Registry of Deeds for land titling in favor of the City Government.

“Mao ng uban dili mi maka-implement sa among projects..,kay nay mobabag,” he further said.

Guardo said that full transfer of the properties to the City may have been caused by sourcing of the expenses.

“Kaning mga deeds of donation, ang problem man gud mostly kay ang source of funds, asa mo-charge og bayad para sa pag-transfer sa title. Mao man na ang nakita nako,” he said.

That is why, he said, there should be an enabling ordinance that would solve the problem of identifying the appropriate funds for the transfer and the titling.

He lamented that if only the Land Recovery Council was created a long time ago, the city could have avoided the complications that now arose concerning a few of the donated properties.

He said it is high time to solve the matter because the city particularly needs to expand its roads and open new ones, especially diversion roads, to decongest traffic; and to relocate those occupying the three-meter easements of rivers.

Other properties, Guardo said, can also be used for projects that would be beneficial for the constituents of the city. — RHM (CEBU NEWS)