OSMEÑA
Celebration to highlight signing of 93-1 land swap agreement between Osmeña, Davide
More than 5,000 urban poor members are expected to join the Solidarity Walk today from Fuente Osmeña Circle to Cebu City Hall’s legislative building to open the Urban Poor Solidarity Week celebration.
The Cebu City government has lined up several activities to celebrate the Urban Poor Solidarity Week from December 2 to 9.
Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP) head Genevieve Alcoseba said the urban poor sector has been wanting to hear Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s solidarity message.
“It is because this will be his (Osmeña) first time to face the urban poor after the covenant signing in Capitol,” she said.
Last April 27, Davide and Osmeña signed a covenant at the Capitol to resolve the long overdue issue on the province-owned lots covered under Provincial Ordinance 93-1 being occupied by Cebu City residents should they win in the May 2016 elections.
The urban poor groups were invited during the covenant signing.
The 93-1 land swap deal is expected to be settled on December 9.
In his news conference held recently, Osmeña said the memorandum of agreement would be signed in line with the celebration of the Urban Poor Solidarity Week.
Among the properties that the city will be giving in exchange for the 93-1 lots are the city’s septage treatment plant and abattoir, the city-owned Block 27 at the North Reclamation Area, a two-hectare lot in the South Road Properties and the Cebu Zoo.
Provincial Ordinance No. 93-1, which was approved in 1993, covers 51 hectares of province-owned land that are occupied by city residents.
These are located in Barangays Kamputhaw, Capitol Site, Kalunasan, Busay, Luz, Lahug, Mabolo, Apas, Lorega, Kasambagan and Tejero.
It is subdivided to at least 4,364 home lots.
Also as part of the celebration, an exhibit will be held in Cebu City Hall in partnership with the Presidential Commission for the Urban Poor.
The exhibit will feature housing agencies, such as the National Housing Authority and Social Housing Finance Corporation.
Another activity called “Doktora Abogada” will also offer free legal and medical services.
There will also be free haircut, manicure, pedicure, foot spa, and body massage.
“We are making this event to make them (urban poor) feel that they are also special. They are not second class citizens, they are the priority of Mayor Osmeña’s administration,” Alcoseba said.
“At least, one day in their lives they have been pampered,” she said.