Friday, March 23, 2007 Tomas wants lots swap with UP
AFTER the aborted lot-swap deal with Capitol, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña wants to swap properties with the University of the Philippines in the Visayas-Cebu College (UPVCC) instead, to avoid the eviction of some 600 families in Barangay Camputhaw.
Osmeña said UPVCC officials sought his help in clearing their eight-hectare property in Camputhaw, which has been occupied by informal settlers for many years now.
“They wanted my assistance in clearing out the occupants of their lots and I said, no way. You do it at your own risk. But apparently, they’re quite open to the City’s acquisition of the property,” he told reporters.
The 600 families have been served notices of eviction in 2002 after they lost the eviction case that UPVCC filed against them. To this day, the urban poor families refuse to vacate the property.
“So, I said yes, maybe we can give them the four-hectare lot that I offered the Province. If they don’t want a lot swap, I’ll do a land swap with UP instead,” Osmeña said.
In his news conference, the mayor said he is open to all possibilities on a land swap, which may include the setting up of a high-technology college-level facility in UPVCC.
He is hopeful that such college facilities will enhance business in Cebu and improve capabilities of professionals here.
Conflict
A similar facility may also be put up inside the South Road Properties, to be managed and run by UP.
With UP acting as the training arm, the linkage between industries and academe can be maximized, said the mayor.
The City Government-owned four-hectare property beside SM City at the North Reclamation Area was first offered to the Cebu Provincial Government, in exchange for their lots in 11 Cebu City barangays.
But because of several conflicts that arose during the course of the negotiations, Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia decided to drop the deal and negotiate with the occupants of their lots instead.
Osmeña also warned European businessmen of the risks and possible consequences of building on Province-owned lots in the city should they decide to accept the governor’s offer to sell the lots to them, including those under Ordinance 93-1.
Garcia is said to have made a sales pitch before European businessmen at a gathering in Manila the other day.
“Well, they can build at their own risk. But it’s not advisable, that’s my advice. You want to build a property? Build at the SRP,” Osmeña said.
He further said he does not have any update on the negotiations between the occupants and Capitol. “Di ba she (Garcia) said watch me? I’m still watching,” Osmeña added. (LCR)
