That plan to sell SRP lots

IN THE past four weeks since Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña took over City Hall's helm, he has mostly gotten his way against his political rivals who now control the Cebu City Council. He succeeded in putting on the run Team Rama supporters in City Hall, in the barangays and in some non-government organizations. All that the “victimized” could do through these was whimper.

Now comes the mayor's plan to sell some lots at the South Road Properties (SRP), a move divulged by Joseph Bernaldez of the City Legal Office recently. Bernaldez admitted that he has been tasked by the mayor to prepare the terms of reference for the deal and study the pricing for the lots located in Pond F.

Sale of SRP lots needs the approval of the City Council. To put it in another way, Osmeña has to ask for the permission of the majority Team Rama councilors for it. This means that the shoe would now be on the other foot.

When Michael Rama was mayor, the BOPK councilors who controlled the City Council at that time looked for ways to block any attempt to sell the SRP lots. They largely succeeded until three of them bolted from the party, allowing the passage of the measure giving authority to the mayor to pursue the sale. Even then, the BOPK councilors, who swiftly regained dominance in the council, attempted to block the sale every step of the way.

While Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and Team Rama councilors have said that they would not be obstructionists to Osmeña's plans, that statement may not tally with the current political reality at the City Hall. Osmeña's actions in the past few weeks are invitations for a response from the opposition. Team Rama councilors could be pressured by those who felt victimized by the mayor's moves to block the sale.

That, admittedly, is going ahead of the story. Team Rama councilors may yet surprise us by approving the sale if they find it beneficial to the city and its constituents. Or some Team Rama councilors may cross party lines and align with their BOPK counterparts and allow the sale.

For now, though, the odds seem stacked against these possibilities. And all because the mayor has been on the warpath instead of mending fences.