RESIDENTS of lots covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1 and Presidential Proclamation 409 in Cebu City are calling on Gov. Pamela Baricuatro to give them land ownership at socialized housing prices.
Rebecca Flordeliz, president of the Alliance of Barangay Apas Community Associations (Abaca), expressed this hope in an interview at the Provincial Capitol grounds on Monday, June 30, 2025, where several homeowners and progressive groups gathered to show support for Baricuatro, just hours before the formal turnover ceremony for the new governor.
Flordeliz expressed the residents’ desire for the new administration to complete an agreement initiated during the time of her predecessor, Gwendolyn Garcia.
The agreement aimed to sell provincial lands in Barangay Apas to their current occupants, as outlined in Presidential Proclamation 409.
“There was an agreement that started with Guv Gwen, Guv Pam should finish it so that Presidential Proclamation 409 is implemented to sell the lands to residents in Barangay Apas, Cebu City,” Flordeliz said in Cebuano.
A key concern for the residents is the pricing.
Socialized housing rates
Flordeliz said they will ask Baricuatro to base the lot prices on socialized housing rates.
She said under current valuations, such as those used for Pag-Ibig Fund loans, prices could reach up to P35,000 per square meter, which is unaffordable to the estimated 2,000 households (around 5,000 individuals) represented by Abaca.
“Guv Gwen didn’t yet give us a price before, now we’re going to appeal to Guv Pam (to give us an affordable price) so that we can be ready,” Flordeliz said, underscoring their readiness to prepare financially if an affordable price is set.
She said their lots are located within Cebu City’s socialized housing zone, reinforcing their plea for reduced rates.
Flordeliz expressed optimism that Baricuatro will assist them in realizing their long-held dream of land ownership.
She said initial discussions have already started between the governor’s legal team and representatives from the Presidential Proclamation 409 beneficiaries.
In a separate interview, Emily Malto, president of the Provincial Order 93-1 Movement, said aside from the lot prices that were difficult to comply with, another problem for them is Pag-Ibig’s road right-of-way (RROW) requirement.
For a Pag-Ibig housing loan, properties must have a RROW that is at least 1.5 meters wide. Properties with a RROW narrower than this may not be eligible for a loan.
“Actually, if we go through Pag-Ibig, many residents will not qualify,” said Malto in Cebuano.
Malto said their request would be for their lots to be donated to them, erasing the deal with Pag-Ibig.
Task Force
Meanwhile, in a press conference on Tuesday, July 1, 2025, Baricuatro said the executive order (EO) she had signed creating a task force would help solve the 93-1 issue.
Guiller Ceniza, who oversees the task force, said they are seeking a long-lasting solution and not just a temporary one.
Ceniza said a study on how to solve the matter will be made based on Baricuatro’s EO.
Ceniza noted a previous agreement between the Provincial Government and the Cebu City Government to solve the issue through a land swap.
The deal, signed on Aug. 3, 2018 by then Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña and then governor Hilario Davide III, sought to resolve ownership issues of the 51-hectare 93-1 lots spread across 11 Cebu City barangays.
The deal was nullified in 2021 by former governor Garcia and the Provincial Board due to the lack of approval from the Commission on Audit.
“Ang previous administration, wala gyuy klaro ani (The previous administration was so unclear about this),” said Ceniza.
Baricuatro said she will sit down with Pag-Ibig Fund to talk about the matter again.
Baricuatro said Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival is also willing to collaborate on the matter. / JPS