Residents demand enforcement of 6-year-old land swap deal

Local

RESIDENTS of the 93-1 lots are demanding swift action from the Cebu City Government to implement a six-year-old land swap agreement, which they say has left over 25,000 families in limbo.

During an executive session on Wednesday, November 20, Emily Malto, president of the 93-1 Movement, urged Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia and the Cebu City Council to address the deed of donation and acceptance signed in August 2018.

The agreement was executed between former governor Hilario Davide III and former mayor Tomas Osmeña to provide land security to urban poor families occupying Capitol-owned lots.

Malto criticized the council for failing to act on the agreement and accused its members of ignoring the plight of the affected families.

She described how residents have been appearing before the council for more than two decades with little progress.

Malto also pointed out that the 93-1 issue only resurfaces when elections are near, reflecting what she called a lack of genuine concern from public officials.

The 2018 land swap deal transferred 32 hectares of Capitol-owned land across 11 barangays in Cebu City to the City Government.

In exchange, Cebu City agreed to turn over several properties to the Provincial Government, including lots in the South Road Properties (SRP), Block 27 in Barangay Mabolo, and Pulpogan in Consolacion.

Despite this agreement, Malto said, no measures have been implemented to secure the land tenure of the beneficiaries.

She criticized the City Government for failing to prioritize the welfare of the urban poor families occupying these lots.

City Legal Officer Eleodoro Diaz IV revealed that the City Government had yet to gather key documents related to the Provincial Board's revocation of the agreement in March 2023, during the administration of then-mayor Michael Rama.

Diaz said his office has requested the documents from the Department of General Services and is waiting for their response.

Pag-Ibig Fund officials, who were also present at the session, disclosed issues with housing loan applications.

Acting Chief of the Pag-Ibig Fund Business Development Department-Visayas Meriam Laurel said only 38 out of 58 applicants had been approved due to unresolved title transfers and deed of donation issues.

Laurel explained that many lots do not meet Pag-Ibig’s minimum size and frontage requirements, further delaying the process.

Malto stressed that many 93-1 families struggle to meet Pag-Ibig’s stringent requirements and called for urgent intervention from local officials.

She described how the delay in implementing the agreement had forced some families to live under constant fear of eviction, making them feel like outcasts in their own city.