Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama showed that he supports and cooperates with the Provincial Government in reaching a settlement agreement with city residents occupying Capitol-owned lots in Sitio CRCI in Brgy. Apas and in Brgy. Kalunasan.
During a meeting called by Gov. Gwen Garcia on Monday, July 17, for residents of the said areas, Mayor Rama said: “Ang amo sang tumong sa pag-anhi dili ang paglabad sa ulo, kon dili ang pag-apil sa pagsulbad sa problema.”
“Usa ra ta ka island, probinsya, ang capital: Cebu City. Dili man mahimo nga maglayo ang capital ug ang kinatibuk-an nga island. Pirmi gyud nang magkuyog. Ang gobernadora kahibalo kaayo ana: in trouble, in rejoicing, and great challenges, we will always stand for Cebu!” the mayor added.
There are 114 households occupying Capitol-owned CRCI (Cebu Rehabilitation Center Inc.) lots which are going to be displaced by the planned construction of a bus terminal by the Bus Rapid Transit project implementers.
CRCI is located beside the NFA regional headquarters along Gov. Mariano Cuenco Avenue just beside the Cebu IT Park.
The Capitol is willing to relocate them to another Capitol-owned lot in Brgy. Kalunasan where at least 300 families are also occupying.
To legitimize their stay in Kalunasan, the Capitol is also willing to sell to them the lots through Pag-IBIG Fund’s more liberal paying terms. Pag-IBIG will pay the Capitol up front for the lot’s fair market value, while the occupants will pay their mortgage to Pag-IBIG in lenient terms that could go even to thirty years.
Pag-IBIG Visayas chief Paul Talacay, who was also present during the meeting, said they will prioritize the loan applications of CRCI and Kalunasan residents in order to assist the city and the province in settling the issue.
Accompanying Mayor Rama were lawyers Jerone Castillo (concurrent budget and legal officer) and Collin Rosell (city administrator). | Carlo Lorenciana