Baricuatro eyes lasting solution to 93-1 land issue

Local

THOUSANDS of urban poor families in Cebu City may soon see progress in their decades-long fight for land ownership as the Cebu Provincial Government, under a new leadership, launched a renewed push to resolve the 93-1 land issue.

Gov. Pamela “Pam” Baricuatro signed Executive Order No. 4 on July 1, creating a task force to study and propose a lasting solution to the dispute that began with a 1993 Provincial Board resolution transferring provincial government-owned lots to Cebu City.

These lots, occupied by informal settlers, remain caught in legal uncertainty.

Baricuatro acknowledged the emotional weight of the issue and called for social justice in her administration’s approach.

She also emphasized collaboration with Cebu City, saying Mayor Nestor Archival has expressed willingness to cooperate.

Leading the task force is Provincial Legal Officer Atty. Guiller Ceniza, who criticized previous administrations for failing to provide a clear path forward.

He recalled that during former governor Hilario Davide III’s term, a land swap deal with then Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña was signed in 2018 but later revoked in 2021 by former governor Gwendolyn Garcia and the Provincial Board due to lack of approval from the Commission on Audit.

Ceniza said the Baricuatro administration is open to revisiting that deal and confirmed that the city’s participation remains vital, as many of the affected lots fall within its jurisdiction.

“So kana 1993 pa na. Gibalik-balik ang problema sa several agreements nga gi-enter sa Cebu. Ang intensyon nato karon kay dili lang panandaliang solusyon. Kinahanglan gyud nga lasting solution,” he said.

Community leaders welcomed the development but reiterated their calls for fair pricing.

On June 30, members of the Alliance of Barangay Apas and Community Associations (Abaca) met with Capitol officials and urged the governor to implement socialized housing rates instead of commercial valuations.

Abaca president Rebecca Flordeliz said they support completing an agreement initiated under Garcia’s administration to sell lots in Barangay Apas under Presidential Proclamation 409.

She noted their members cannot afford Pag-IBIG Fund housing rates, which can go as high as P35,000 per square meter, and asked that rates reflect the area’s designation as a socialized housing zone.

Emily Malto, who leads the 93-1 Movement, echoed these concerns. She pointed out that many informal settlers are ineligible for Pag-IBIG loans due to narrow access roads and outdated subdivision plans.

She added that some families were asked to apply for Pag-IBIG loans without knowing the actual cost of the land.

Malto said residents prefer the implementation of the Deed of Donation made in 2018, calling for Cebu City to take the lead and for the Capitol to abandon the Pag-IBIG housing option.

“We are just fortunate that Cebu City also is very collaborative with us,” Baricuatro said during the July 1 press conference, expressing hope that Capitol and City Hall could finally settle the long-running dispute.(MyTVCebu)