Solons revive deal with UHRI

The Cebu City Council reiterated Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s authority to sign the P18-billion joint venture agreement ( JVA) with Universal Hotels and Resorts (UHRI).

This, as the City Legal Office asked the court to dismiss the case filed by Busay Barangay Councilor Amilo Lopez over the proposed P18-billion Kawit Island development on the ground that the petitioner has no legal personality to file it.

In a 8-6 vote with one abstention, the Council approved last Sept. 25 the resolution of Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. to reiterate the authority of Osmeña to sign the two resolutions that were approved during the Aug. 8 session.

These resolutions include the authority of Osmeña to sign the JVA with UHRI and the application for special land use of a sanitary landfill in Barangay Binaliw.

Eight Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan councilors voted in favor of the passage of the resolution while six opposition councilors voted against it.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera abstained.

The opposition councilors have been questioning the legality of the two resolutions that were approved last Aug. 8.

They filed a petition in court for the Declaration of Nullity with Urgent Prayer for Issuance of a 72-Hour temporary restraining order (TRO) and/or writ of preliminary injunction against it.

The petitioners wanted the court to declare void Sangguniang Panlungsod Resolutions 14-0183-2018 and 14-0184-2018 dated Aug. 8, 2018 because these were considered irregular and patently unlawful.

But despite it, Osmeña and UHRI officials pushed through with the signing of the JVA last Aug. 17.