Council junks authority to negotiate for Osmeña

The Team Rama-dominated Cebu City Council wants the ownership issue to be settled first before allowing Mayor Tomas Osmeña to negotiate with the Cebu Ports Authority to use the open space near the Compania Maritima building as terminal for vans-for-hire.

Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera said it would be “inappropriate” to approve the proposed resolution authorizing the mayor to negotiate with the representatives of CPA as it would appear that the city government has conceded its claim over the property.

“It is noteworthy to mention that the Cebu City Government and the Cebu Port Authority are both claiming ownership over the century-old Compania Maritima Building and the surrounding area,” the committee report reads.

The council approved the committee report during yesterday’s regular session.

Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. had proposed to authorize the mayor to negotiate with the CPA officials.

As of now, the V-hires are using the open space near a mall at the South Road Properties. Gabuya said the drivers of the V-hires used to have their terminal at the open space near Compania Maritima.

The drivers and operators have requested to go back at the area. The property is the subject of a civil case filed by CPA against the city government. Gabuya said he has to wait for the other legal opinion of other committees of the council where the resolution was referred.

He said he will wait for the legal opinion of the City Legal Office, too.

Pesquera, chairperson of the committee on budget and finance, said the city government and the CPA have agreed to let the court decide to settle the issue of ownership during the administration of then mayor Michael Rama.

“The Committee recommends settling ownership issue first before considering the request of the GT Express V-hire to use the open area as their terminal,” Pesquera’s resolution reads.

These V-hire drivers and operators used to park and operate at OneCitilink Terminal but they were asked to transfer by the previous administration because of the pending case before the court. The court has yet to issue its decision on the complaint of OneCitilink after the city issued a closure order.

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