FIVE years after a 7.2 magnitude earthquake weakened the structural integrity of the Marcelo Fernan Palace of Justice, a new judiciary complex is expected to rise soon in the South Road Properties (SRP).
That is, if the Cebu City Council approves the proposed ordinance of Councilor Sisinio Andales transferring the ownership of a 15,041-square meter (sq.m.) lot at the proposed government center in the SRP to the Supreme Court (SC).
During the public hearing last Tuesday, Nov. 20, Justice Jose Midas Marquez said that in a memorandum of agreement dated April 28, 2010, the City Government donated a 7,123-sq.m. lot in the SRP to the Supreme Court for the construction of the Court of Appeals building in Cebu City.
But three years after the donation was made, the Palace of Justice at the Provincial Capitol Compound was deemed uninhabitable after the Oct. 15, 2013 earthquake.
The Palace of Justice, which housed thirty trial courts, was condemned and the SC was compelled to temporarily lease a property for the trial courts.
“Because of that earthquake, the Supreme Court saw it fit to build a judicial complex that will house the Court of Appeals for the Visayas, the trial courts of Cebu City, and other offices for the administration of justice. The Court has already approved and alloted an initial budget of almost P1.5 billion for the purpose,” Marquez said.
Since the SC is now envisioning a judicial complex, it would need a bigger property to develop the offices and facilities.
“We respectfully request that the 7,123-sq.m. property of Court be swapped with a 15,000-sq.m. property located in the government center of the SRP,” Marquez said.
The matter was also raised by Marquez in a letter dated July 23 to Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
In the letter, Marquez said it may be mutually beneficial for both the SC and City Government if the proposed judicial system be built at the government center in the SRP.
Councilor Andales’ draft legislation, though, is still subject for a final deliberation. RTF