Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama called on the Cebu provincial government to turn over city-owned lots in order to help the city government relocate displaced families and settlers.
“The province has so many properties. They can turn it over to us. We are not intending to sell (anyway),” he told reporters.
Rama said government-owned lots should not be used to earn money but should be given to its occupants.
He cited the ongoing demolition in sitio San Miguel, barangay Apas as an example of what might happen to occupants of lots covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1.
The mayor said he has yet to sit down with Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III to discuss the fate of lot occupants who have long been negotiating to own the lots they have lived on.
PEACE AND ORDER
Rama commended the team headed by City Legal Officer Jerone Castillo for helping the Apas families stop the demolition of houses on a private lot.
Rama asked Court Sheriff Edilberto Suarin to coordinate with the city in cases of demolitions being carried out because it is a peace and order concern.
The mayor said the Apas demolition should teach the Cebu City and provincial governments how to deal with urban poor families.
“The province will also have to be involved,” he said.
Rama said former governor Vicente “Tingting” dela Cerna agreed to give out 93-1 lots to its occupants for a minimal price.
He said giving government land to its occupants is also implemented under the free patent law.
MINIMINAL FEE
The Cebu City government gave titles to 59 families in barangays Duljo Fatima and Tinago who availed of the free patent program for a minimal rate.
The free patent law requires applicants to have lived on the lot they occupy for at least a decade and to show proof that they don’t own any other properties in other parts of the country. “I’m just looking for a solution to the problem. They (province) can turn over to us and we use this law,” Rama said.
For his part, Cebu City Councilor Alvin Dizon asked the congressional committee on housing and urban development chaired by Rep. Alfredo Benitez of Negros Occidental’s 3rd district to investigate urban poor demolitions including the Apas case.
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