Friday, February 23, 2007
Other lot occupants worried over moves of Capitol officials
THE furor over the lot swap proposal has affected not only occupants of properties under Ordinance 93-1.
Residents of other Capitol lots in the city, including those who have documents showing that they have been paying rent and taxes, went to the Provincial Real Estate Section to ask for clarification about the issue.
They fear they will be covered by Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s pronouncements on the lot swap proposal, which has been muddled by other matters, such as the provincial road closures and the land development moratorium in Banilad, Cebu City.
Asyla Albios, 65, said they deserve to know what the Capitol’s plan is.
She said they are worried about their future and have been sleepless because of the pronouncements of both City and Capitol officials, whose conflict is stalling the proposed exchange of properties.
Albios has lived all her life on a Capitol lot measuring 777 square meters along M.J. Cuenco Ave. in Cebu City, near the vicinity of the Cebu State College of Science and Technology (CSCST).
She went to the office of Real Estate Section Chief Paul Entera yesterday to ask whether the issue covers all Capitol lots.
Albios also inquired whether an eviction notice has already been issued and whether they will be informed of whatever action the Province will take against occupants of Capitol lots.
Entera, however, could not give her any details, saying it would be up to the governor to decide on such matters.
As of this time, the Province has yet to finalize details of the governor’s pronouncement that the Capitol may deal directly with the occupants, without a need for any middle agent.
Capitol consultant Pablo John Garcia had said the Province may either deal with the relocation of the occupants, or bid the lots for development and let the winning bidder take care of the eviction.
Instructions
As of yesterday, Pablo John said nothing specific has come up on this matter.
Provincial Attorney Marino Martinquilla is also awaiting further instructions from the governor, who was in Pilar, Camotes group of islands yesterday.
Records from the real estate section also showed that there are 1,517 beneficiaries who have not made any payment for the lots they are occupying.
There are 1,208 beneficiaries who made partial payments but still forfeited their claim when they failed to meet the September 2004 deadline for the full payment.
With the figures, the number of beneficiaries who might be evicted is only 2,725 and not 5,000 as reported.
The total number of beneficiaries for the Ordinance 93-1 is 4,358, occupying 53 hectares of Province-owned land in 11 Cebu City barangays.
Of the number, only 1,430 have paid for their lots in full. (JPM)
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 23, 2007 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
