Team Rama bloc wants pact between city, settlers

Joey Daluz

THE Team Rama bloc in the Cebu City Council wants an agreement between the city and the beneficiaries of the province-owned 93-1 lots before they approve the land swap deal signed by the city and province last Wednesday.

Cebu City Councilor Jose Daluz III, who heads the council’s committee on social services and housing, said an agreement would ensure that there’s no stalemate between the city and the beneficiaries.

He said the beneficiaries should know and agree on the guidelines to be set by the city on how they can eventually own their lots before approving the land swap deal.

Daluz said this would ensure that the deal doesn’t end with the bartering of the properties.

And since there are other properties involved in the land swap deal, Daluz said the council also needs officials from the executive department to discuss and explain why they chose these properties for the deal.

“That’s the job of the City Council. We have to look for the good of the City of Cebu, not just the beneficiaries but the city as a whole,” he said.

Under the agreement signed by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III last Wednesday afternoon, the city will give a portion of Block 27, the abattoir and the city’s Septage Treatment Plant in the North Reclamation Area to the province.

The city also included a 2.5-hectare lot in the South Road Properties (SRP) and the city-owned property in Barangay Pulpogan in Consolacion town in exchange for 32.4 hectares of the 93-1 province-owned lots located in 11 barangays in the city.

The province is also expected to give to the city a 1.5-hectare lot located in the Department of Agriculture (DA) compound in Barangay Guadalupe and portions of the province’s properties in Barangays Lahug and Capitol Site.

The council is expected to start discussing the land swap deal on its regular session on Tuesday next week.

Councilor Joel Garganera also agreed with Daluz, saying the settlers should be guided on how they can pay off their lots to the city government.

“What’s the price? This early, we want them to know if it’s affordable by them or not. I want them to have their security of tenure because it will give them a peace of mind,” he said.

Garganera said it’s good that Osmeña and Davide already have their initial agreements on the matter. Councilor Philip Zafra said he supports the resolution of the long-standing 93-1 lot dispute.

“For me, what matters most is what will be the best for the settlers, vis-a-vis the interest of the city. We should also give emphasis on the price of the lots to be paid by the settlers. It should be based on socialized housing,” he said.