Garcia: Solution not for Osmeña to say

By Gregg M. Rubio/FPL (The Freeman) Updated July 08, 2011 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - Deputy Speaker Pablo Garcia believes that his colleague, Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña is being out of order for trying to muddle the efforts to solve the controversy arising from the provincial ordinance 93-1.

Garcia said it was improper for Osmeña to be issuing statements that would undermine the efforts of no less than Vice President Jejomar Binay to come up with a “happy compromise.”

Binay was in Cebu last Wednesday to meet with the occupants of the province-owned lots. During the meeting, Osmeña declared that the problem will not be solved as long as Governor Gwendolyn Garcia is still in power.

“Ngano siya man mosulti nga wala man siya’y labot,” Rep. Garcia said.

According to the congressman, Osmeña is no longer the mayor of Cebu City and the affected residents do not belong to his district.

“On the basis of what is happening, nasayop tingale siya,” Pablo added.

Pablo explained that the provincial government owns the properties involved and it is the one dealing with the occupants and the city government.

“Iya ra na hunahuna. He is entitled to his own opinion,” he said.

Pablo dismissed Osmeña’s claim and instead expressed confidence that his daughter governor could solve the issue as she had already promised to dispose of the problem before her term ends.

The ordinance 93-1 was crafted during the time of former governor Vicente dela Serna to give the informal settlers occupying the provincial property the opportunity to purchase the lot through installment.

During Pablo’s term as governor, he extended the terms of payment until the time of his daughter. However, Gwendolyn decided not to give another extension.

Gwendolyn ordered the recovery of all provincial properties including those covered by the ordinance 93-1.

Since the occupants are residents of Cebu City, the city government under the then administration of Osmeña tried to negotiate with the province for a possible land swapping deal.

The negotiation went smoothly until Mayor Michael Rama, who was then vice mayor, delivered a privilege speech before the City Council that insulted the province.

The Capitol decided to back out from the land swapping negotiation leaving the plight of the occupants hanging. Now that Rama has mend fences with the Capitol, he is already working with the Capitol to address the problem. (FREEMAN)