TWO corporations owned by a family donated privately owned main roads at the North Reclamation Area (NRA) to the Mandaue City Government.
The donation means the City Government can now take over the maintenance of the roads, fix the potholes and install drainage systems and traffic lights.
City Mayor Gabriel Luis Quisumbing signed a memorandum of agreement (MOA) and a deed of donation and acceptance with F.F. Cruz and Co. Inc. and Mandaue Realty Resources Corp. (Mareco) yesterday morning.
The properties donated by the corporations owned by the Cruz family are F.E. Zuellig Ave., Mantawi Drive, F. F. Cruz St. and portions of Ouano Ave.
Quisumbing said many people are unaware that the roads are owned by private corporations.
“I often receive complaints about the state of the roads in the reclamation area—everything from potholes to dust and trash and even parked trucks. What many people don’t realize is that these roads were owned by the private developer F.F. Cruz since they undertook the reclamation over 30 years ago,” he said.
“That changed today. Last year, when I began my term, we went to them to ask if they’d be willing to turn over these roads to the City so they can be maintained and they graciously agreed,” the mayor said.
As stated in the two deeds of donation and acceptance, F.F. Cruz and Co., Inc. donated four lots while Mareco donated six properties. All 10 properties have a total land area of 12.86 hectares.
F.F. Cruz and Co., Inc. President Angelita Cruz signed the documents in behalf of the company while Zenaida Cruz-Chinloy was the authorized representative for Mareco.
One of the conditions of the donation is that Zuellig Ave. will be renamed to F.F. Cruz Blvd. in honor of Engr. Felipe F. Cruz.
In an interview, Angelita said they donated the properties because the city mayor has been good and that they trust him.
“We know that it is for the good of the community,” she said.
Aside from the mayor, Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna also signed the MOA and deed of donation and acceptance. The city councilors and department heads were also present during the MOA signing at the Mandaue City Session Hall.
Quisumbing said the City can now take over the administration and maintenance of all the road networks in NRA.
City Hall will use bulk of the City’s more than P1-billion cash in bank for infrastructure development, which will include the maintenance of the roads in NRA.
The City will also ask for the Department of Public Works and Highways’ help in maintaining the roads.
“It is because of this generous donation of Mareco and F.F. Cruz that the road networks will be able to match the developments that are forthcoming… We would like to thank the F.F. Cruz family on behalf of the City for their very generous donation. We have always considered Mareco and F.F. Cruz as an integral part of the development of the city of Mandaue and we truly value their commitment to the development of the city and this just shows how deep their commitment runs,” the mayor said. (FMG)