WITH nine votes, the Cebu City Council postponed for one week the approval of the memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the City Government and Cebu Provincial Government on the 93-1 land swap.
Councilor Jose Daluz III moved that the MOA be referred to the Council’s ad hoc committee on 93-1 before the approval to allow the members to review the agreement and talk to the beneficiaries.
Councilor Nendell Hanz Abella opposed the move of Daluz, prompting Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella to proceed with the voting process.
Councilors Daluz, James Cuenco, Raymond Garcia, Jocelyn Pesquera, Jerry Guardo, Pastor Alcover Jr., Philip Zafra and Joel Garganera, members of the majority bloc, voted in favor of the motion.
Members of the minority bloc including Councilors Margarita Osmeña, Sisinio Andales, Eugenio Gabuya, Alvin Arcilla and Joy Augustus Young, voted against it.
Councilors Abella and Dave Tumulak also voted against the motion.
Since there was a tie, Labella had to break it and voted in favor of the motion.
About a hundred beneficiaries of the land swap were present during the session.
Members of the minority bloc wanted to approve immediately the MOA to allow the Capitol to transfer the ownership of the lots under 93-1 to the City and start coming up with terms and conditions.
During the deliberation, Osmeña said the matter is urgent and the MOA is a start, so that the City can begin the negotiations with the lot occupants.
She said that whatever the move of the mayor will still have to go through the Council for approval.
But Daluz said that under their house rules, all MOA should go through the referrals to the committees concerned.
He said they have formed the ad hoc committee composed of the chairpersons of different committees to fast-track the review.
Daluz assured that the referral to the ad hoc committee will not delay the process since they will come up with a report within one week and present it during the session next week.
Osmeña also questioned the creation of the ad hoc committee and asked what have they done to help the executive department address the 93-1 issue.
Daluz said the creation of the ad hoc committee was backed by an approved resolution last Aug. 23, which allowed them to prepare for the review of the MOA since there was a declaration from Mayor Tomas Osmeña that he will address the 93-1 issue within 60 days after he assumed office.
Emily Malto, president of the 93-1 movement, said they are hopeful that after one week, the Council will approve the MOA, so they can move on to the next phase of the matter.
“We can’t do something about it because it’s the rule, but we hope that there’s an assurance that after one week, they will go for the land swap. Other issues concerning 93-1 should be discussed later on once the MOA will be approved,” Malto said in Cebuano.
Last week, Mayor Osmeña and Gov. Hilario Davide III signed the MOA, pending the approval of the Council.