Cebu City and Cebu Province officials sign the MOA for the 93-1 land swap deal in front of urban poor groups on Wednesday. (CDN PHOTO/JOSE SANTINO S. BUNACHITA)
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III have finally fulfilled their campaign promise of resolving the long-standing 93-1 lot dispute.
The two officials signed a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the land swap deal as a resolution to the issue on Wednesday afternoon in front of hundreds of beneficiaries of the province-owned lots located within the city.
But Osmeña said the fight is not yet over.
“It’s not yet over. Kinahanglan pa ni ug approval sa city council. Di ko kahatag assurance nga mosugot sila. Pero mensahe nako sa sakop sa Team Rama sa konseho, ug ilang balibaran ang land swap, magporma ko ug recall for a special election. We will remove them from city hall,” he said in his speech.
(We still need approval from the city council. I can’t give an assurance that they will agree to this. But my message to the Team Rama councilors is that if they reject the land swap, I will call for a special election)
For his part, Davide said that since he became governor in 2013, it has been part of his plans to resolve the issue.
He apologized for the delay in the resolution but gave an assurance to the beneficiaries who witnessed the MOA signing that he will remain committed to make sure that the issue is completely resolved.
Provincial administrator Mark Tolentino and Osmeña’s executive assistant Bimbo Fernandez were witnesses to the signing.
Other city officials present during the signing were Councilors Alvin Arcilla, Margarita Osmeña, Mary Ann De Los Santos and Sisinio Andales.
Former Councilors Alvin Dizon and Nida Cabrera were also present including Tejero barangay councilman Garry Lao.
In her response, 93-1 Movement president Emily Malto said that while they’re happy with the MOA signing, it’s not yet an absolute happiness.
Malto, who lives in Barangay Apas, said they will continue to lobby with the city council for the approval of the land swap deal.
Under the MOA, the city will give a portion if the Block 27, the city’s Septage Treatment Plant, a 2.5-hectare lot in the South Road Properties and the city-owned property in Barangay Pulpogan in Consolacion town in exchange for the province-owned lots located in 11 different barangays in the city.
The province will also give to the city a 1.5-hectare located in the Department of Agriculture compound in Barangay Guadalupe, a portion of the province’s property in Barangay Lahug and another property in Barangay Capitol Site.