In this Oct. 7, 2015 file photo, Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III (second from right) talks with Michael Dino (second from left), then an official of 5th Avenue Property Development Corp., after the signing of the Build Transfer Operate agreement for the Ciudad project at the governor’s conference room.
Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III voiced concern over reports that Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña will persuade him to drop the Ciudad project in Barangay Apas.
The governor said he only knew about it when asked by the media during his press conference yesterday.
Osmeña said the Ciudad project, which started in 2006 but has been stalled until now, would cause a traffic gridlock in the project site which is along the congested Banilad-Talamban (BanTal) road.
But Davide said if ever Osmeña will not agree with the project, then it could be a problem for both the city and the province.
Osmeña said he would use as leverage the city’s ongoing talks with the Cebu provincial government on the land swap deal for the Cebu City lots covered under Provincial Ordinance 93-1.
Davide and Osmeña have been in talks for a possible land swap deal in order to resolve the 93-1 lot dispute where provincial-owned lots located within Cebu City barangays have been occupied by residents already.
But the governor said he never knew about the offer and they never discussed it during their series of meetings in the issue of 93-1.
“Wala na naapil sa among agreement (It is not included in our agreement). Pero that can be an issue between the city and the province. I will take it up to him,” Davide said.
Next week, Davide said he is set to meet with Osmeña to talk about the 93-1 lots.
He said he will also talk to the mayor on the Ciudad project. Davide said their last conversation was before the mayor went to the US last August 4.
He said the province already drafted the agreement. The governor did not disclose the provisions in the agreement.
“I will present it to Mayor Osmeña hopefully madayon na (the land swapping). We will (fasttrack it). We will discuss the terms there,” Davide said.