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Thursday, April 27, 2006
Gwen rejects Tomas Kawit offer, recalls ‘insults’ on Capitol
Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday shut down Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s proposal to swap part of Kawit island with the old Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center.
She also rejected the mayor’s idea for the Capitol to build a modern farmers’ center in Block 27 of the Cebu North Reclamation Area.
“I really have to appreciate the mayor, padayun intawn gihapon nga nag-offer nato…. In spite of the fact that previous attempt of a land swap was rudely interrupted and totally trashed by very indiscriminately thrown words, he continues to reach out,” said Garcia.
Cat
“But I would not want to subject the Province again to such insults... Ang iring nga nasunog ug kausa, sakit kaayo masu-nog ug kaduha,” she said.
In a press conference yesterday, the governor said that land swapping has come into its “tragic end.”
Negotiations were underway for the Capitol to swap its lots in Cebu City that are occupied by more than 4,000 illegal settlers, in exchange for a City-owned property at the North Reclamation Area.
But deliberations on the matter at the Cebu City Council had Vice Mayor Michael Rama and Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera accusing the Capitol of including in the swap lots that the Capitol no longer own. They expressed concern that Cebu City will be at a losing end with the deal.
The accusation of possible estafa angered the Capitol officials, who pointed out that the idea of a land swap originated from Cebu City. They said the Capitol’s lots are even worth more than P1 billion, and that of the City is merely P400 million.
The Province scrapped the deal.
Recently, Osmeña again raised the idea of a land swap by saying that the Capitol can build a farmers’ center.
Drug rehab
He also said the Province can build its museum at the Kawit island, while the City can use the old provincial jail as a drug rehabilitation center.
Because of its location and existing structures, the old provincial jail is an ideal site for a drug rehabilitation facility or a mental hospital, the mayor said.
“I’m suggesting that but the governor wants a museum there and I said M.J. Cuenco is not exactly a place that tourists will go to. It’s better if we use it for a drug rehabilitation facility because Cebu really needs one,” Osmeña said.
But Garcia turned his proposals down yesterday.
“I’m sure there will be other opportunities for us to work harmoniously and productively with each other. We will continue to work with the City and cooperate in other areas when and if we can,” she said.
“Mayor Tommy can always count on the Provincial Government’s cooperation, and even good relations. And I refer to the mayor...,” Garcia further said.
However, she said the Capitol is bent on building a farmers’ center in another area, seeing this is “very much needed” and is part of her 12-point agenda in her inaugural speech. (JPM/With LCR)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (April 27, 2006 issue)
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