Garcia: No politics, just accountability in 93-1 lot issue

Local

FOR Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, the controversy over the 93-1 land swap is not about politics, it is about accountability. And in his view, that accountability belongs to former mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Garcia pointed out that the land swap deal, signed in 2016 between the Cebu City Government and the Cebu Provincial Government, was meant to be implemented during Osmeña’s term.

With three years in office, he said, the former mayor had ample time to enforce the agreement, especially while then-Governor Hilario Davide III was in charge.

"He was mayor for three years, and he did not implement it. Three years is a long time. And I, as mayor for nine months, am the one to implement it, right?" Garcia said

Osmeña, however, had not acted on it. And now, Garcia finds himself in the position of addressing an issue that should have been settled long before his administration.

Not political

The mayor also dismissed allegations that the governor’s March 7 ultimatum, which is requiring 93-1 residents to secure a Pag-Ibig Fund housing loan or risk forfeiting their claims, was politically motivated.

He clarified that the deadline had already passed and that any potential extension would be up to Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

With the ultimatum now expired, he saw no political leverage in the issue. If beneficiaries sought an extension, he said they were welcome to approach him for assistance in coordinating with the governor.

He also emphasized that his administration had been actively working on the concerns of 93-1 residents for over a year, not just now, during the election season.

Garcia further argued that the 2016 land swap deal was no longer legally enforceable, pointing to a Commission on Audit (COA) report that flagged inconsistencies in the agreement.

The Provincial Board later rescinded the memorandum of agreement and the deed of donation, replacing the deal with the Pag-Ibig-backed housing loan program.

Under this new scheme, beneficiaries must purchase the lots they occupy, with prices ranging from P50,000 to P90,000 per square meter.

Many residents, largely from the urban poor sector, have raised concerns over the financial burden.

Osmeña calls it 'political'

In a press conference last week, Osmeña and Councilor Nestor Archival remained critical of the governor’s decision to impose a deadline on 93-1 beneficiaries, describing it as a move designed to pressure residents and influence the upcoming elections.

For Osmeña, the ultimatum was nothing more than a bluff, intended to create fear among affected homeowners while benefiting Garcia’s reelection bid.

Archival, who is challenging Garcia in the mayoral race, urged residents to take legal action against the city for its failure to enforce the 2018 land swap agreement.

The councilor recalled that he had sponsored a resolution in November 2024, urging the mayor to implement the land swap deal signed between Osmeña and Davide. However, the resolution had not led to any concrete action.

The original agreement would have transferred 32 hectares of provincial land in Cebu City to the city government in exchange for various properties, including a 2.5-hectare lot at the South Road Properties (SRP) and a nine-hectare parcel in Consolacion.

When Governor Garcia took office in 2019, she withdrew from the deal, citing COA findings. In place of the land swap, the province pursued a Pag-Ibig Fund-backed loan scheme, allowing beneficiaries to purchase their lots through a 30-year amortization plan.

A 2022 report from the Provincial Government showed that 1,445 beneficiaries had fully paid for their lots, 1,188 had made partial payments, and 1,731 lots remained unpaid.(MyTVCebu)