Capitol-owned lot occupants receive titles

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and Provincial Board Member Grecilda Sanchez-Zaballero pose with Kalunasan lot owners after Davide signed the deed of sale. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

After paying in full for a province-owned lot back in 2003, 71-year-old Erlinda Bulante can say the land is really hers.

Bulante said she paid P1,150 for a 115-sq. m. lot in barangay Kalunasan, Cebu City 12 years ago, but the provincial government never conveyed to her a deed of absolute sale until yesterday.

The retired teacher is among 12 beneficiaries of the Old Philippines Railways Residents Association Inc. (OPRRA, Inc.) that finally received the documents proving that they are legitimate owners of the lots.

Bulante said this development was an “early Christmas gift” to her and her family.

Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III signed a deed of absolute sale of a total of 1,464 sq. m. of land to the beneficiaries at the Capitol Dignitaries’ Hall yesterday.

Only nine out of 12 beneficiaries were present yesterday.

Each beneficiary bought lots ranging from 115 sq. m. to 143 sq. m.

All of them complied with documentary requirements proving full payment to the provincial government, according to Provincial Board (PB) resolution no. 2476-2015.

Paul Entera, supervising administrative officer of the Provincial General Services Office (PGSO), said it was former governor Pablo “Pabling” Garcia who ordered the provincial treasurer and other offices to prepare the needed steps for the beneficiaries to comply.

“But it came to a point when Pabling became too busy toward the end of his term in 2013. His successor, former governor Gwendolyn (Garcia) constantly followed it up. I just don’t know why the deed wasn’t signed immediately,” he said in a separate interview.