Thursday, February 07, 2008 Council group gives more weight to Luz's servicing of Lahug firms
ALTHOUGH roads can serve as boundaries between barangays, a Cebu City Council three-man committee gave more weight to Barangay Luz’s role in providing services to Lahug residents in delineating the two villages.
The committee, composed of three councilors from the south district, considered results of a survey conducted by the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO) in identifying the boundary between Lahug and Luz.
If their recommendations are followed, opposition-led Barangay Lahug could lose two of its major sources of revenues—the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and the Cebu Grand Convention Center.
Disputed
Among the disputed areas are Archbishop Reyes Ave. and Salinas Drive.
In the survey of establishments located in the disputed areas, at least 80 percent of of them claimed that the garbage collection services are provided by Luz Barangay Hall, the committee members said.
Also, 100 percent of those surveyed attested that Luz also looks after the peace and order in their area.
Councilors Gerardo Carillo, Raul Alcoseba and Roberto Cabarrubias submitted their committee report to the council yesterday, but its approval was deferred pending further evaluation of the subject.
“In the recommendation by the CPDO, the delineation boundaries set by roads and streets may also be defined through their service provisions,” Carillo told the council.
“Such time-honored principle preferring roads and infrastructures to act as boundaries is already antiquated due to advancements in technology, which made it possible to establish points and lines on the map and on the ground with exceedingly significant accuracy,” he continued.
But before City Hall can change the boundaries between Lahug and Luz, the committee said its residents will have to be consulted first.
To establish the existing boundaries, the committee asked the CPDO to produce clear copies of the 1965 Cebu City Map, the map of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources and the city map of the City Assessor’s Office and the Commission on Elections precinct map.
They also asked the CPDO to identify the boundaries of Luz and Lahug in all four maps.
The matter was referred to the committee after Mayor Tomas Osmeña asked the council to approve an ordinance “declaring the proper delineation of boundaries between Barangay Luz and Lahug,” in a move that could strip the barangay of some of its largest taxpayers.
Division
The mayor, as recommended by the CPDO, favored Barangay Luz in its request to declare within its jurisdiction the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino and the Grand Convention Center, among other establishments.
In the barangay maps posted in the City Government’s website, these two establishments fall within Lahug.
The same is true for the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel in Nivel Hills, the Asiatown IT Park and Parklane Hotel.
However, Barangay Busay wants to claim Marco Polo, while Apas believes it should have Asiatown IT Park’s taxes, and Camputhaw insists Parklane falls within its territory.
Although the mayor only endorsed Luz’s request, the CPDO’s recommendation virtually favored all those barangays with which Lahug has a boundary conflict. (LCR)
