Rama wants meeting over 93-1 lot dispute

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama wants to meet anew with Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III and other provincial government officials to work out their differences on their proposals to resolve the dispute over the province-owned lots in the city.

This came after the provincial government asked for an additional P1.3 billion lot in the South Road Properties (SRP) on top of the P500 million offer from City Hall.

“I don’t want to think that it’s from him (Davide) or not. There may be others who wrote it (counter-proposal) or gave their inputs. So I don’t want to make conclusion. The most important thing is that we will continue to be talking,” Rama said.

The valuation made by a Technical Working Group of the province showed that the P500 million offered by the city is inadequate compensation for the turnover of the province-owned lots covered under Provincial Ordinance 93-1 to the city.

But Rama insisted that the city and province should not limit their negotiations on the land valuation.

Rama said the city will also donate city-owned housing sites in Consolacion and the cities of Talisay and Mandaue to the province.

“We already agreed before. Jun, we should do it now. If we don’t do it now, we may not be able to do it at all,” Rama said.

Cebu Provincial Legal Officer Orvi Ortega said they are also asking for a P100 million down payment before the province turns over the certificate of titles to the 93-1 lot occupants and the other P400 million once the turnover is completed.

He said the land valuation of P1.3 billion is fair for the province. While they are entertaining other options, Ortega said negotiations will continue.

“If things won’t work out, our other option is that we will deal directly with the homeowners, set guidelines and tap the National Housing Authority (NHA),” he said.