Monday, July 4, 2011

Vice President Binay to help solve 93-1 controversy



By Gregg M. Rubio/JPM (The Freeman) Updated July 05, 2011 12:00 AM

CEBU, Philippines - Vice President Jejomar Binay is set to help settle the Ordinance 93-1 issue along with other concerns on informal settlers in Cebu City.

Although there is no specific date yet, Capitol consultant Rory Jon Sepulveda said they are already aware that the issue is part of the agenda that Binay would want to settle during his visit soon.

The Capitol is not minding some Cebu City officials’ doubts on whether the issue would be resolved within the term of Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Mayor Michael Rama as assured by the two local chief executives.

Sepulveda said in a negotiation such as the 93-1 issue between the Capitol and the City Hall, there are always those who want to be the nuisance (magsinamok).

It was Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young who earlier said he found some things that Rama said in his recent State of the City Address as hard to believe, like his assurance that there is no more threat to the negotiations on the controversial 93-1 lots issue.

Rama quoted Garcia as saying there will be no problem on the 93-1 issue and that before their term ends, they will put the issue to rest.

Young, however, said he will give the governor and the mayor the benefit of the doubt and they also want the issue to be resolved.

“Gahuwat ta sa eksaktong timpla. Makita na sa umaabot adlaw kung padayon ba paghot under the compass sa ila agawon,” Sepulveda told reporters yesterday, apparently referring to city officials following orders from Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña.

Sepulveda said there are on-going talks between him representing the Office of the Governor and City Administrator Jose Mari Poblete representing the Office of the Mayor.

He refused to divulge details of what transpired in their previous talks, except reporting that the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) is now coordinating with National Housing Authority.

The DILG has entered into the scene when it also offered prices of lots for the National Government to purchase the lot owned by the Province of Cebu now occupied by informal settlers.

The Province of Cebu stands firm in its position to get paid by the whole amount of the property and no longer from individual payment of the beneficiaries who failed to comply with the conditions stated in the Provincial Ordinance 93-1. The issue on 93-1 was not originally part of Rama’s nine-page speech but he mentioned it as Garcia and some members of the Provincial Board were present for the SOCA.

Young, after the SOCA, said he still cannot find concrete evidence to make him believe the issue will finally be resolved. - (THE FREEMAN)

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