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Saturday, July 16, 2005
Talisay stubborn, says SRP head, citing its refusal to give clearance
Before the feud began, Project Manager Paul Villarete had indeed requested former Talisay City mayor Eduardo Gullas for a clearance certificate, to pave the way for Cebu City’s title for the South Reclamation Project (SRP).
That was more than four years ago.
In a formal letter dated Sept. 4, 2001, Villarete said Cebu City needed the clearance to get proof of land ownership from the Bureau of Lands of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR).
In turn, Acting Talisay City Planning Development Coordinator Sofronio Seron Jr., in his Sept. 20, 2001 reply, said they could not act on the request without the exact nature of and details about the required document.
Seron also told Villarete that the 295-hectare SRP extended towards the boundary of Talisay, based on a relocation survey in 1999.
Talisay City Administrator and Legal Officer Aurora Econg showed these two documents to the media yesterday, to prove that a clearance certificate from Talisay City Government is necessary for the SRP title.
What for?
Aside from Talisay City, private foreshore lot owners must also sign an affidavit to confirm the absence of any boundary or land dispute.
Econg took exception to Villarete’s comment that Talisay City had interfered in Cebu City’s affairs and harassed the DENR on the SRP title.
Econg said her office only wanted to find out if the SRP title has indeed been issued, as Cebu City has already thanked President Arroyo for it.
Streamers marked “Welcome home, President Arroyo” and “Thank you for the SRP title” were seen in Cebu City this week.
“Why is it that they’re thanking the President? We sent our query to the DENR because we are interested in our boundary.
That’s not interference, I’m telling Villarete to look for the exact meaning of interference in the dictionary,” Econg said.
Econg stressed that Talisay City is not claiming ownership of the SRP, of which 53.44 hectares have allegedly extended into Talisay’s territory.
‘Tinkering’
Villarete, for his part, said Talisay City should “not interfere with the streamers hanging in Cebu City, unless they want us to also interfere with streamers placed in Talisay.”
“Common sense dictates that you should take care of your business,” he said yesterday.
Villarete explained that the streamers thanking the president for the titles “were for the presidential proclamation that transferred ownership of the SRP to the Cebu City Government.”
“We are just complying with the documentary requirement. I’ve been saying over the last three years that jurisdiction is properly addressed by the Local Government Code. It has nothing to do with the titling process. She (Econg) should go back to her books and read about boundary dispute. That’s exactly the legal opinion of the Department of Justice,” he said.
“Why are they tinkering with the titling? If they tinker with the title, then it is not only jurisdiction that they are after. They are also after the ownership,” Villarete said.
Villarete acknowledged that Cebu City indeed sought clearance from Talisay City in 2001 but they objected to it.
“That’s how stubborn these people are. In spite of their objection, DENR has recommended granting the ownership of the SRP to Cebu City, DOJ upheld that endorsement and the President issued a proclamation. Di sila kasabot ana? They are blatantly disagreeing with President Arroyo’s decision,” he added.
Econg, he added, is already acting beyond her functions.
“She is not the mayor. She is not the City Council. If they really want to object, let the mayor do it himself. She is making a mockery of their mayor. Unsay tan-aw niya sa ilang mayor, dili kamao?” he said. (GC/GAC)
(July 16, 2005 issue)
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