Saturday, October 13, 2007 GMA serves as witness to signing
THE Cebu Provincial Government finally recovered the lots it donated to the military 48 years ago.
The property was donated to the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) on Oct. 12, 1959.
President Arroyo witnessed the signing of the agreement yesterday, also Oct. 12, ending years of negotiations and a legal battle.
No specific plans
The donation was on the condition that the property would be used for military purposes, but not all 80 hectares were being used for this purpose. Also, the property is in what has since become a commercial area.
“Today, circumstances having changed and its purpose having fulfilled, the parties revisit the past and in doing so, do a great service to the future. By handing back this valuable piece of property to the patrimony of the Province, the AFP, through Her Excellency President Gloria Arroyo, have ensured the future of future generations of Cebuanos,” said Garcia, who turned 52 yesterday.
They have yet to draw up specific plans for the property, but Garcia said she will stick with her policy not to sell or donate, but recover and use Capitol properties to generate money that could be used to deliver services to the Cebuanos.
The recovery of the Central Command (Centcom) property has also muddled the relationship with the Cebu City Government that has already turned sour. Cebu City officials had said that to protect residents in the area from being displaced, they will declare Capitol properties as socialized housing sites or parks.
Turnover in principle
Department of National Defense Secretary Gilbert Teodoro, in an interview, said that what was signed yesterday was only the general principle of turning over the property to its original owner, the Capitol.
Negotiations will still have to be made for details and the agreement will still have to be signed for anything specific, such as the concerns of retirees, he said.
In the initial agreement, the AFP reverts ownership to the Capitol only the lots that are not being used by the military.
The rest will be turned over after the Centcom transfers its headquarters to Lapu-Lapu, and its support facilities to Tuburan or Tabuelan. It is the Capitol that will spend to replicate the facilities in the new sites.
Also with Arroyo as witness, Cebu Province yesterday signed commitments of cooperation with Gangwon, Korea, with its Gov. Kim Jin-sun.
There was also an agreement signed for Rep. Benhur Salimbangon’s (Cebu, fourth district) Jathropa project, and for the writing of Cebu’s history. (JPM)
