Rama Firm on P500M Offer for Cebu Capitol Lots Occupied by City Residents

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has said he is firm on his offer to buy for PHP500 million Cebu provincial government-owned lots occupied by some 5,000 families.

Rama said the city’s proposal to buy the lots was already agreed upon in principle during his meeting with Cebu Governor Hilario Davide III.

He said the meeting was also attended by former governor Vicente dela Serna, Cebu Vice Governor Agnes Magpale, Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and Cebu City Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor Chief Atty. Collin Rosell.

Occupants of the lots, all in Cebu City, were allowed to buy the lots under Provincial Ordinance 93-1 passed during the term of then governor dela Serna.

The lots have a total area of 51 hectares spread in eleven Cebu City barangays.

But some 5,000 families still have not paid the lots they occupied after the ordinance lapsed.

Rama said their proposal has been put into a proposed memorandum of agreement (MOA) which has been submitted to the Cebu Capitol.

Rama said the city’s offer to pay PHP500 million for the lots will also include the eventual donation to the provincial government of city-owned socialized housing sites located in the province.

These include the 21,000-square-meter property in Barangay Canduman, Mandaue City, a 13-hectare socialized housing area in Pulpogan, Consolacion and another property in Talisay City. (PNA) LAP/EB/EDS