The management of Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Lahug proposed a “long-term” lease of the Cebu City government-owned lot 917 located beside their Salinas Drive gate.
Vicente Lazaro, the hotel group’s chief engineer, said they needed a lot to set up air-conditioned tents that they could use as venue for concerts, fashion shows, exhibits, bazaars, pet shows and motor shows.
Lazaro attached a copy of their lease proposal to the March 10 letter which he sent Mayor Michael Rama and the City Council. The letter questioned the planned disposal of the 2,357 sq. meter property to Hotel Asia, Inc.
Waterfront’s one-page proposal mentions a “long-term lease of the idle lot from the City of Cebu” at P25,000 per month or an estimate of P11.30 per sq. meter.
Hotel management is proposing a 20-year lease period subject to renegotiation and renewal after the expiration of the lease contract.
Rama earlier said he read Lazaro’s letter and the hotel’s proposal and referred this to the BAC and the city legal office for review.
Waterfront hotel management filed a civil case for certiorari and injunction against Rama, the City Council and Bids and Awards Committee (BAC) chairman Jose Daluz III last week.
Regional Trial Court branch 9 judge Alexander Acosta will hear on Monday the hotel’s application for a temporary restraining order that will stop the city from disposing lot 917.
Labella said that the council’s action on the proposed lot disposal will depend on the outcome of Monday’s hearing.
“I think their petition for injunction is premature because the council didn’t authorize the mayor to sell the property,” Labella said.