Cebu City Forms Body to Help Solve Problem of 5,000 Families Living in Cebu Capitol Lots

The Cebu City Council has created an ad hoc committee to address the decades-old problem of some 5,000 families who are living in Cabu Provincial Government-lots in the city.

The committee will be tasked to evaluate and recommend to the legislative body solutions to the long-running problem and assist Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña in looking for the most viable and acceptable terms and conditions in the negotiation with the provincial government.

“It shall be a monumental achievement of the agenda of the current Sangguniang Panlungsod to be instrumental in resolving during its term this lingering impasse on the 93-1 concern,” said Cebu City Councilor Joel Garganera, in a one-page resolution.

The committee is composed of Councilors Jose Daluz III, Raymond Garcia, Jocelyn Pesquera Gerry Guardo and Philip Zafra.

Garganera said the membership of the ad hoc committee is based on who are the chairpersons of the standing committees in the council, particularly those who will review matters pertaining to Cebu Provincial Ordinance 93-1.

The ordinance allows Cebu City residents to buy the province-owned lots they are occupying, but it has lapsed and many residents were not able to buy these lots.

Daluz is the chairperson of the council’s committee on social services and housing; Garcia of the committee on laws; Pesquera, committee on budget and finance; Guardo, urban planning and infrastructure; and Zafra, barangay affairs.

The councilors from the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) of Mayor Osmeña has since begged off from heading or being members of the council committees. (PNA) LAP/EB/RSM