Council to Rama: Consult first

Councilor Dizon wants a dialogue or consultation before sealing a deal on 93-1 issue

THE Cebu City Council asked Mayor Michael Rama to consult the legislative body and members of the homeowners’ associations before starting any deal for the resolution of the 93-1 issue.

In his privilege speech last Wednesday, Councilor Alvin Dizon said there is a need for a dialogue and consultation with the lot occupants to protect their security of tenure in Province-owned lots and to ensure that the issues all stakeholders will be properly addressed.

“If the City wants to really solve the problem then the mayor should stop acting unilaterally. Before going to the negotiating table, the mayor should consult the City Council and the 93-1 homeowners to get their side on the issue and to be updated on what is happening on the ground,” he said.

Earlier, the City sent a proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) to the Provincial Government to solve the long-running issue involving the tenurial rights of the urban poor settlers living on lots covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1.

Under the proposed MOA, City Hall will pay an initial P100 million to Capitol to acquire the remaining 93-1 lots, which have not yet been fully paid for by urban poor beneficiaries. The remaining P400 million will be paid upon the transfer of the certificates of title covering the properties in the name of the City.

Close to 5,000 urban poor families in 11 barangays of the city are occupying the lots, said Dizon.

The City had proposed a land swap deal with the Province where the for- mer’s property in the North Reclamation Area will be swapped with the Province-owned lots but this did not push through.

In 2011, Rama created the 93-1 Cebu City negotiating committee that included some councilors as members.

But despite the appointment, Dizon, who chairs the committee on housing, said they were not informed and invited to any of the meetings.

Before the 2013 elections, Dizon said, Rama again announced that the dispute will be settled already but there was no real deal.

“All these false pronouncements only give us the real score of where this administration is truly rooted; for the interest of the poor or the interest of patronage politics,” Dizon said.

Sought for comment, Rama said he does not need to consult the council since he already included Dizon in a group that will be formed to take care of the deal.

The group will also include Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, Councilor Nendell Hanz Abella, City Attorney Jerone Castillo for the City Government and Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Provincial Board Member Peter John Calderon and Provincial Administrator Mark Tolentino in the Province.

“It can’t be, look what’s happening, we’ve been asking matters to be deliberated then they are being reluctant and now they are telling me to include them,” he said.

Rama also clarified that the affected residents have been participating in the discussions.