NEGROS Occidental Vice Governor Eugenio Jose Lacson said the land expropriation on the two properties worth P485 million that the Capitol is eyeing to acquire is “not possible.”
Lacson aired this opinion after the Provincial Board has yet to figure out its next move following the committee hearing Wednesday on the purchase of the 25-hectare land in Barangay Matab-ang, Talisay City for P225 million, and the 40-hectare property at Barangay Mansilingan, Bacolod City for P260 million.
Fifth District Board Member Alain Gatuslao, chairman of the committee on laws, rules and ordinances, said there are many questions from other board members especially on the process of land expropriation, which means that there should be “no agreement between the government and the property owners.”
Another issue raised is why resort to land expropriation when the contract to sell still exists.
“The contract to sell still exists but the property owners said they are having a hard time complying with the requirements, including the DAR (Department of Agrarian Reform) clearance,” Gatuslao said.
He added that his committee would need a letter from the Office of the Governor to rescind the contract to sell.
“Normally, it should be the governor (Alfredo Marañon Jr.), but the vice governor (Lacson) right now is the acting governor,” he said.
“There has to be a rescission first on the contract because we can’t go through land expropriation if the contract to sell is still existing,” Gatuslao pointed out.
Lacson, when sought for comment, said that “as the officer-in-charge, I will not make that request (for rescission). It should be governor who should make the request.”
The governor is on four-day vacation in Japan this week.
Lacson added that the contract to sell is valid unless the DAR will deny the request of landowners clearance.
He said the Provincial Board “has already authorized the governor to sign the contract to sell last December. It has been consummated and signed by both parties. The provincial government already made a down payment” of P30 million for each property.
“There’s a consummation, there’s an agreement from both parties. That’s why I feel expropriation is not possible. That’s my personal opinion,” Lacson added.
Gatuslao said that the P60 million down payment will form part of the deposit for the land expropriation.