Mayor Garcia urges 93-1 residents to secure properties before prices rise

Local

CEBU City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has urged residents occupying properties under Provincial Ordinance (PO) 93-1 to secure their lots before land values increase.

He emphasized that pricing should be based on the latest fair market value.

Garcia said that many 93-1 beneficiaries had presented counterproposals for pricing based on outdated valuation figures from Cebu City Hall, which were last updated in 2003 or 2004.

However, he stressed that the fair market value should be determined using recent sales data, not outdated government assessments.

“So the property that was worth P1,000 before might be P10,000 now…We have to be fair. We will use fair market value, not based on outdated tariffs, but on the most recent sale price of similar properties,” he said in a press conference on Monday, March 24.

The mayor directed the City Assessor’s Office to determine the latest fair market value by analyzing the most recent property transactions in surrounding areas.

He clarified that while the city assessor's office can assess values, only the Cebu City Council has the authority to officially adjust property tariffs.

Garcia also pointed out that the Commission on Audit (COA) could flag transactions where government-owned properties are sold below fair market value, which could lead to legal consequences for the officials involved.

He said the provincial government must ensure that transactions comply with COA regulations.

“The provincial government is also subject to COA audit. There have been cases where government properties were sold too cheaply, and COA flagged them for failing to use the proper valuation,” Garcia explained.

“That’s why we must sell these lots at fair market value to avoid government losses,” he added.

He noted that many 93-1 beneficiaries have agreed to work with the City Assessor’s Office to determine accurate pricing.

He also urged them to act swiftly, warning that land values could continue to rise if they delay payments.

“The more they delay paying for their properties, the higher the value will go,” Garcia said.

While Garcia acknowledged that discussions with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia regarding a final ultimatum are still ongoing, he assured residents that he is in communication with the provincial government regarding the matter.

He reiterated that this is a rare opportunity for residents to finally own the land they have occupied for years and encouraged them to take action while the provincial government is still willing to sell the properties under fair market conditions.

Last March 7, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia issued a final ultimatum for 93-1 beneficiaries to process their housing loan applications with Pag-IBIG Fund.

It further warned that failure to comply within the deadline would mean forfeiture of the opportunity to avail of the Pag-IBIG housing loan.

The affected properties span 11 barangays, including Apas, Busay, Kasambagan, Capitol Site, Kalunasan, Mabolo, Lahug, Lorega San Miguel, Tejero, Luz, and Kamputhaw.(TGP)