|
Saturday, August 19, 2006
Editorials: Status of provincial lot occupants
The admission by a Cebu City Government official that City Hall has not even prepared a relocation site for occupants of province-owned lots in Barangay Luz means it is confident of preventing their eviction.
This even if Capitol, as early as last month, has issued notices to vacate to residents of Lots 1, 2 and 3 in Luz, meaning they have been given only 30 days to leave.
But considering the actions made by the affected lot occupants, it is apparent they do not share the optimism of City Hall officials.
Their leaders are increasingly visible, airing in the media their appeal for a reprieve and even seeking the intercession of Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal.
Whether these developments will soften the stance of the Provincial Government still remains to be seen, although for now Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia has expressed determination to proceed to the eviction phase.
The key for the province-owned lot occupants, of course, is the land swap offer that Mayor Tomas Osmeña has continuously made palatable for the governor to accept.
The mayor, though, has to make sure there will no longer be a repeat of the previous mess wherein statements issued by Vice Mayor Michael Rama prompted Capitol to leave the negotiating table.
Osmeña, for example, must consider the views of other City Hall officials before making additional offers; even now Rama seems not keen on the mayor’s proposal to include the Cebu City Medical Center in the deal.
In the end, however, talks on land swap and the future of province-owned lot occupants will have to reckon with the openness of Capitol officials to alternative proposals.
If they close the door to further talks, the hope is that the eviction phase won’t turn violent and protracted and that the cordial relationship between Capitol and City Hall won’t be frayed.
Comic relief and John O
Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia may have brushed aside as mere comic relief former senator John Osmeña’s claim that materials used for the beams of the Cebu International Convention Center were second hand.
But the statement may have provided more than that, like directing public attention to the facility and thus providing additional pressure for the builders to ensure that the construction will be up to specifications and will be finished on time.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 19, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
