THE Archdiocese of Cagayan de Oro and City Government inked a land exchange deal in an aim to build a church and a school on these properties.
Under the agreement, the city will transfer ownership of properties in Macanhan and Calaanan to the Archdiocese where churches will be built. In exchange, the Archdiocese will also transfer its Malasag property to the city where Malasag National High School will be constructed.
Cagayan de Oro City Mayor Oscar Moreno said Malasag residents, mostly composed of Indigenous Peoples, have long been requesting for a high school in their area.
Engineer Armen Cuenca, head of City Local Environment and Natural Resources Office who is also one of the project coordinators on this venture, said that the city found the Malasag property of the church to be an ideal place in putting up a school.
“It so happen that the Archdiocese, too, want to buy a property in Macanhan (which was owned by the City Government), but it has to undergo bidding process and they might not win. So, instead, the best option was to have an exchange,” he said.
Moreno said the partnership is addressing two needs, one, in strengthening moral values, and the other, in building the children's future.
Archbishop Antonio Ledesma said they are happy that they got an area in Calaanan, which he called a “place for Typhoon Sendong victims.”
“We will help of the local community by building a formation center, and we are also happy that we are able to help the educational development of the city. It is a win-win exchange for the city and us,”Ledesma said.
The government's lot in Macanhan has an estimated area of 3,090 square meters and another 4,366 square meters in Sitio Calaanan in Brgy. Canitoan.
The church's property in Malasag, Brgy. Cugman meanwhile has a total land area of 13,000 square meters.
The signing of the Deed of Exchange came after the 18th City Council headed by Vice Mayor Raineir Joaquin Uy approved Ordinance No. 13611-2019 authorizing Moreno to enter into such agreement.