Cebu City Council holds in abeyance construction works in Carbon Market
This is an artist’s impression of a redeveloped Carbon Public Market. The Cebu City Council says work on the project should be put on hold because the Cebu City Council has not signed yet the Supplemental Memorandum of Agreement of the project. | Photo courtesy of Megawide Construction Corporation (file photo.)
CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Cebu City Council has requested Mayor Michael Rama to hold in abeyance all the construction works for the Carbon Market modernization program.
This was after a majority of the councilors approved the motion of minority floor leader, Councilor Nestor Archival, in 7-hour regular session on Wednesday, February 23, 2022.
Archival argued that construction should halt as the Supplemental Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) had not yet been signed as a curative measure of the Joint Venture Agreement (JVA) between the city government and Megawide Construction Corp.
The proposed supplemental MOA is actually already with the City Council on Wednesday, but they deferred the approval of the MOA for another week of study.
Archival said that as the city government was taking a curative measure on the JVA, the demolitions must be stopped, and construction postponed.
In a seeming twist of fate, the minority floor managed to get majority votes during the division of the house.
Councilors Archival, Jun Alcoseba, Alvin Dizon, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Leah Japson, Jessica Resch, Franklyn Ong, and David Tumulak approved the motion.
Due to the absence of Councilor Niña Mabatid and Junjun Osmeña the majority floor lost the number needed to get the majority votes.
Majority floor leader Councilor Raymond Garcia, James Cuenco, Joel Garganera, Joy Pesquera, and Philip Zafra, and Jerry Guardo firmly objected to the motion.
With this, the City Council will be deliberating on whether they will be approving the supplemental MOA or not.
Vice Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros assured the public that the council was one in modernizing the Carbon Market.
Only that, they want to ensure that the JVA is at the best interest of the city.
“There were some motions presented by Councilor Archival. It went to the division of the house and then mahold (held) in abeyance for a period of time until macheck ang (this can be checked, the) curative measures,” said Hontiveros.
The vice mayor said that the council was also concerned on the future of Sitio Bato, where the residents would be transferred, and how they would be taken cared of.
Rama said that while the document had not been tackled in the council yet, he could not yet divulge the supplemental MOA publicly.
“We are really focusing on that matter. We consumed two months for this. The discussion was not only on the side of the executive but also with the Joint Venture Selection Committee,” said Rama.
The mayor believed that they were able to do what they ought to do.
“It may not be the best for all, but it is still much subscribing to what is equitable and fair for the great number of the Cebuanos,” he added.
RELATED STORIES
Colmenares, Labog promise to lead probe on Carbon modernization project
Megawide welcomes House probe on Carbon market: We have nothing to hide
Cebu City to get P5 million from Megawide this year for Carbon Market modernization
Redeveloped Carbon to bring P70M in annual income to Cebu City
Megawide Carbon Market modernization breaks ground
/dbs
Disclaimer: The comments uploaded on this site do not necessarily represent or reflect the views of management and owner of Cebudailynews. We reserve the right to exclude comments that we deem to be inconsistent with our editorial standards.
