MANILA, Philippines — The Cebu City government remains hopeful about reclaiming lots it had donated in Barangay Kalunasan for its housing project, despite one lot having already been transferred to a new name.
After an ocular visit of the lots donated to the Evangelical Coalition Church of Cebu, Inc. and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR)-7 in Kalunasan, City Councilor Jerry Guardo, the City’s housing overseer, said the area is no longer suited for the original purposes of donation.
The lot for the Evangelical Coalition Church of Cebu was meant to be a cemetery while that of DENR-7 is currently being used as a wildlife center.
DENR-7 already agreed to transfer the center in Brgy. Guba, while the Evangelical Coalition Church was not able to use the 4.2-hectare property as a cemetery.
“Until now, wala gyud sila nakatukod didto ug cemetery,” Guardo told The Freeman.
Aside from that, Guardo said, City Planning and Development Officer Michael Joseph "Yumi" Espina, told him that based on the zoning classification, having a cemetery in the said area is mo lonher allowable.
“Dili na mo-qualify kay residential area na man na siya didtong dapita,” Guardo said.
He said that though the Evangelical Coalition Church was able to transfer the property to its name, he believes that the City Legal Office would be able to sort this out since there is already a “breach of contract.”
"Amo na ng gi-study-han karon,” said Guardo.
He also disclosed that there are actually three, not two, parcels of lot that they are actually looking into, the third one being a 5-thousand square meter of lot registered in the name of the city and has no encumbrances.
Guardo also does not see any problem with the 1.2-hectare lot donated to the DENR-7, as the agency already agreed to move to Guba and the title has not been transferred yet under DENR's name.
“Kaning sa DENR, pag-adto namo didto...ungoy, mga bitin, naay mga langgam,” he said.
He also said the area is not suited anymore as a site for wildlife conservation.
“Kalunasan is within the heart of the City.Nindot kayo ni for housing. Sayang kayo kung dili ni ma-maximize ang yuta,” he said.
“Kaning two ka parcel lang alone, dako na kaayo ni nga property. Maong akong giingnan silang Archt.Yumi, nga buhatan na ni nila'g masterplan,” Guardo said, while they are waiting for Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia's final say on the matter.
He said recovering the concerned lots is crucial in providing housing particularly for those affected by the clearing of the three-meter easement of the city's rivers. (CEBU NEWS)