City blocks CPA’S fencing on disputed lot

THE Cebu City Government yesterday issued a cease and desist order against the Cebu Port Authority’s (CPA) fencing of a property fronting City Hall’s executive building.

Mayor Michael Rama stopped the fencing, saying the ownership of the subject property has not yet been resolved.

“If mamugos sila na ifence nila, dakong away na uy,” said Rama, adding that the property is part of Quezon Blvd.

City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete said there are portions of the lot fenced by the CPA that are owned by the City, as per records from the General Services Office.

Pending case

In his regular news conference, the mayor said he believes the property should not be fenced and that no obstruction should be placed in the area until the issue on the ownership will be resolved.

Aside from this, the mayor said he doesn’t want anything to obstruct the view from City Hall to the newly-established senior citizens park and the sea.

The mayor said the CPA’s move is illegal, con- sidering that the agency has not secured a fencing permit from the Office of the Building Official (OBO).

Asked when CPA started fencing the property, Poblete said it started last week.

Last year

According to Poblete, the CPA relayed to the City its plan to fence the property fronting City Hall sometime last year yet.

That time, Poblete said they had already requested CPA not to push through with their plan.

“As per instruction of the mayor, we want to leave (the property) as it is notwithstanding as to who is its owner. The mayor wants no obstruction in the area since fencing it will affect the senior citi- zens park,” he said.

With the recent move of CPA, however, it seems that the City’s request has been rejected, he said.

If CPA will try to se- cure a fencing permit from OBO, Poblete said the City will scrutinize their documents, adding that one of the requirements is ownership of the lot.