Rama Vetoes Ordinance Allowing Homeowners to Manage Government Property

Mayor Mike Rama on Monday exercised his veto power by not signing the Cebu City Council’s approved ordinance allowing a homeowners’ association in Barangay Punta Princesa to manage a government-owned covered court in their place.

The City Council, composed mostly members of the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK), had passed an ordinance allowing the Punta Princesa Manggahan Homeowners’ Association to manage the covered basketball court.

In his press conference Monday, the mayor informed the reporters that he vetoed the ordinance because he considered it as illegal. Before the City Council had passed the ordinance two weeks ago, the mayor has issued order that empowers the officials of Punta Princesa to manage the said court.

Rama questioned the propriety of allowing a private entity to manage a public property, like the government covered court.

The mayor’s four allies in the council voted against the passing of the ordinance but they were outnumbered by the 14 councilors who are members of BOPK.

Team Rama’s allied councilor Nendell Hanz Abella, who is a lawyer, explained that the government property cannot be assigned to private entities who are not accountable.

But Councilor Gerardo Carillo, who is also a lawyer, argued that the ordinance passed by them is in consonance with existing provisions of the law on subdivision, wherein the homeowners’ association is made to manage the open spaces in the subdivision.

Now that the mayor had finally vetoed the ordinance passed by the City Council, the next move of the City Council is to override the mayor’s veto power by having at least two third votes. They only need 12 votes.

For his part, Punta Princesa Barangay Captain Jose Navarro is contemplating on filling a complaint against the council over the management of the Manggahan sports complex.