Sunday, March 23, 2008 Ending the tug-of-war for taxpayers
THE Cebu City Council has suggested for Barangays Luz and and Lahug to amicably settle their boundary conflict over the area where Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino and Grand Convention Center stand.
It, however, also approved the Committee of Three’s decision to adopt the recommendations made by the City Planning and Development Office (CPDO), which favored the barangays that Lahug is at odds with over their boundaries.
For that, Lahug may have to ask the court to settle the disagreement.
“It’s very disappointing for all the members of the City Council to adopt such a recommendation,” said Lahug Barangay Captain Mary Ann de los Santos in a telephone interview.
Barangays Luz, Busay, Apas and Camputhaw are claiming portions of areas that Lahug said are in its territory.
The CPDO already favored Luz in its request to declare within its jurisdiction the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel and Casino and the Grand Convention Center, among other establishments.
‘Proper delineation’
Last October, Mayor Tomas Osmeña asked the City Council to approve an ordinance “declaring the proper delineation of boundaries between Barangay Luz and Lahug,” in a move that could strip Lahug of some of its largest taxpayers.
De los Santos said she will sue the City if the council declares the contested area to be within Luz’s territory.
The council, in approving the committee’s recommendations, also directed the CPDO to produce a clear copy of the 1965 Cebu City map certified by the Land Management Bureau. That way, the City Assessor’s Office can issue a certification as to territorial jurisdiction over the disputed area according to its records.
It also told Luz to submit written declarations and sworn statements of people residing in the disputed area, and to furnish copies of its resolution and other related documents to Lahug, which must respond within 15 days of receipt.
Once the documents are in, the council will schedule a hearing for possible amicable settlement of the conflict.
Non-traditional
In favoring Luz, Villarete rejected the traditional way of setting boundaries, which is to use the roads as boundary line,(in this case, Archbishop Reyes Ave.), saying the Grand Convention and Waterfront are closer to Luz’s barangay hall.
It also gave weight to the fact that Luz collects the garbage and keeps peace in the area.
But de los Santos questioned the manner with which the CPDO came up with its recommendation.
She said Lahug’s claim is based on the original 1965 Cebu City map, on which the CPDO based the barangay’s boundaries as posted in the City Hall website (www.cebucity. gov.ph).
She had cited politics as reason the CPDO favors the barangays with which Lahug has a boundary conflict.
She said Villarete has never consulted her or any of Lahug’s other officials before coming up with the recommendations.
She said it could be because she has long refused to kowtow to Osmeña, and accused the CPDO of being run by the mayor’s minions.
“This is political vendetta in the highest form. But I’m going to protect the credibility and territorial integrity of Lahug,” de los Santos said. (RHM)
