EDITORIAL - Losing trust

The Court of Appeals has already decided that the sale of 45 hectares of lots at the South Road Properties in Cebu City during the administration of Michael Rama was legal. But there are those who continue pushing for its invalidity.

In a last-ditch effort, members of the City Council allied with outgoing Mayor Tomas Osmeña approved a resolution requesting the City Legal Office to file in court a petition for declaratory relief to declare as invalid the sale of the lot, which was sold in August 2015.

Voting 9-4, the resolution authored by Councilor Sisinio Andales stated that “The Sanggunian emphasizes that per Section 4 of City Ordinance No. 2332, parties ‘are enjoined from participating in any unauthorized transaction or offer to sell, dispose, transfer or otherwise convey any property in the South Road Properties, without specific prior approval from the Sangguniang Panlungsod.’”

The outgoing administration is hell-bent on doing whatever it takes to cancel the SRP lot sale. Osmeña, now on the last days of his term, has refused to accept the payment for the lot properties from the three developers, contending that the deal was disadvantageous to the city.

Now that the appellate court has spoken, it remains to be seen if Osmeña’s allies in the council can succeed. Although they still have the Supreme Court to resort to, any petition against the sale can only prolong the legal battle and, in the process, delay efforts to develop those prime SRP properties.

It’s very unfortunate that it is the city itself and the Cebuanos who stand to lose so much from this development. Had the development of those properties pushed through following the deal, it would have already benefitted thousands in terms of employment.

As it started to lose its attractiveness, this continuing legal battle only puts the city’s reputation at stake. That is because many in the business community have begun to lose trust in our local officials, thinking the city is no longer an ideal place for investment.