Capitol to blame for delaying 93-1 lot resolution, Binay says

Vice president says province ‘overthinking’ on lot dispute

Vice President Jejomar Binay pose with residents of barangay Kamputhaw, Cebu City. (CDN PHOTO/ LITO TECSON)

It’s the Cebu provincial government, not Cebu City Hall, that’s delaying the resolution of the dispute involving Cebu City lots covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1.

Vice President Jejomar Binay said the Capitol has been “overthinking” on what to do with the settlers occupying province-owned lots in the city.

“What’s happening is it’s still analysis-paralysis. I think the last time I’m here, Mayor Michael Rama reiterated financial support. It looks like the province isn’t finished because of the costing, on how much it will be sold (for),” Binay said.

Mayor Rama and then Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia sought Binay’s help in resolving the issue.

Updates

Binay was then head of the Housing and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC).

The vice president, who has declared his intent to run for president in the 2016 elections, resigned from the post recently and has become a critic of President Benigno Aquino III’s administration.

Provincial Ordinance 93-1, which was passed in 1993, allowed settlers to buy province-owned lots located in Cebu City which they have occupied for years. Until now, more than half of the identified beneficiaries still haven’t paid for the lots.

Asked if he had any updates on the case, the vice president said it should be the local officials that should give updates.

“You have to talk to the officials concerned. It’s up to them to give an update. Mayor Rama is ready with P50(0) million for that project. He had promised. Mayor Rama is ready to give financial support. The problem is the province,” Binay said.

Unilateral

Asked if he would personally reach out to Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III, an ally of the Liberal Party to hasten the resolution of the issue, Binay just shrugged his shoulders and didn’t answer.

City Councilor Alvin Dizon, who heads the committee on housing, said they haven’t been informed about the mayor’s policy on this dispute.

“The City Council’s committee on housing is not informed on the executive department’s action. They are acting unilaterally…The 93-1 lot dispute would have been resolved a long time ago if Mayor Rama did not oppose the land-swap deal,” Dizon said.

The city government allocated P300 million for lot acquisition to resolve the issue.

The amount included appropriations from previous years, which now total P500 million.