OUTGOING Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has handed over to Acting Mayor Donaldo Hontiveros the responsibility to address the long-standing issue of the Mang Inasal branch accused of encroaching on a sidewalk at F. Gonzales corner Osmeña Blvd.
Garcia believes the Office of the Building Official (OBO) has already filed legal cases regarding the violation.
In a virtual conference on Tuesday, June 17, 2025, Garcia acknowledged the persistent nature of the problem, which has forced pedestrians onto the street.
“That is an old issue, and I think the OBO acted on it; it was not given a permit,” Garcia said in a mix of Cebuano and English.
“I think the move was to file a case against the building owner for not following the rule on sidewalks,” he added.
While recognizing the building’s heritage status due to its age, Garcia suggested a compromise that would respect both the structure and public access.
“That has been there for more than 50 years, but what they should have done was respect the sidewalk rather than enclose it. They could have just kept the sidewalk open, placed tables and chairs in a way that people could still pass through, and the building would also be preserved,” he explained.
Garcia, who is currently on leave, reiterated that he has not issued a demolition order and has deferred the matter to Hontiveros.
He also expressed confidence that if the establishment lacks a business permit, it is operating without proper authority from the City Government.
“For sure, kon wala nay business permit, it is operating without any authority from the Cebu City Government,” he said.
The mayor declined to comment on allegations made by Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. that a political figure is backing the establishment.
However, Hontiveros stated on Monday, June 16, 2025, that the Mang Inasal issue was not discussed during their most recent weekly department heads meeting.
The sidewalk encroachment has been a persistent concern for Councilor Alcover, a vocal critic since 2016. During a public hearing last Wednesday, June 11, 2025, Alcover expressed frustration over the lack of progress, questioning why the establishment seemed “untouchable” despite years of violations and concerns about potential unpaid taxes due to the lack of a building permit.
In a recent Facebook post by the Cebu City Public Information Office, OBO head Florante Catalan affirmed that numerous notices have been served to the establishment even before his tenure.
He added that based on OBO’s request, the City Legal Office has issued a legal opinion suggesting that the city’s Prevention, Restoration, Order and Beautification Enhancement (Probe) Team should issue a “clearing order” for the structure.
However, the same post quoted Raquel Arce, the head of Probe in 2022, as saying that at the time the legal opinion was issued, her office had not received a “clearing order” from the Office of the Mayor, which is crucial for initiating actual demolition or removal operations. / JPS