Friday, August 17, 2007 Talk back: Declaration of socialized housing zones By Gerardo A. Carillo Cebu City Councilor
ONE could not help but wonder if our local papers are indeed there to inform and educate the public on the truth behind the issues published or they are just there to stir some controversy to jack up sales.
In the section “Top of the Week” of your newspaper last Sunday, August 12, 2007, you tactfully pointed out that I did not study the plan before opening my mouth.
Now let me continue to open my mouth and explain to you the “plan” so that you will understand the purpose of the proposed ordinance that I and three of my fellow councilors will be proposing in the Council session.
Let me begin by giving the title of the ordinance: “An Ordinance Amending Section 3, Article IV of Ordinance No. 1656, as Amended, otherwise known as “ The 1996 Revised Zoning Ordinance of the City of Cebu” by incorporating therein a new land use classification called Socialized Housing Zones.”
The proposed ordinance aims to rezone some 436,000 square meters of land owned by the Provincial Government in 11 barangays in the city.
Let me explain further that having been declared as Socialized Housing Sites is different from having it incorporated in a new land use classification called Socialized Housing Zones.
When a portion of land is declared as a socialized housing site, it means that the land is suitable or set apart for socialized housing but it is not subject to restrictions and regulations.
Now, with the proposed ordinance declaring a new land classification called Socialized Housing Zones in some portions of land within the city, the said portion of land is already restricted by city regulations to socialized housing and could not be used for any other purposes.
The proposed ordinance that we will be introducing in the next Council session is not about a new land classification called Socialized Housing Sites but rather “Socialized Housing Zones.”
We councilors of Cebu City do our homework before we open our mouths.
We do not barge into a territory without studying the plan, which is what I would suggest to your paper.
Before acting as the spoiler and crushing the hopes of our Cebuano constituents, I would suggest that my explanation be given equal importance.
