Baricuatro orders review of ‘resolved’ 93-1 issue

Local

DESPITE being declared resolved earlier this year through a Pag-IBIG Fund-backed settlement, the decades-old 93-1 controversy is once again being revisited under the current Cebu provincial administration.

The Cebu Provincial Appraisal Committee (CPAC) is scheduled to meet on August 26 to finalize the valuation of lots covered by a proposed land swap deal with the Cebu City government.

Governor Pamela Baricuatro ordered the review after beneficiaries raised concerns over the high valuation set by the Pag-IBIG Fund, which many settlers said they could not afford.

Provincial Assessor Michelle Languido confirmed that the CPAC adopted the Pag-IBIG appraisal as the basis for negotiations.

She explained that the committee chose the Pag-IBIG valuation to maintain fairness between the province and the city, noting that the controlling factor in assigning values was limited to the lots intended for swapping.

The 93-1 property spans 51 hectares across 11 Cebu City barangays, including Busay, Luz, Lahug, Mabolo, Apas, Lorega, Kasambagan, Capitol Site, Tejero, Kamputhaw, and Kalunasan. Cebu City, in exchange, has offered properties in the South Road Properties (SRP), North Reclamation Area (NRA), and a portion in Consolacion.

Once finalized, the CPAC’s valuation will be forwarded to the city’s appraisal committee before submission to the Provincial Board for approval.

Baricuatro emphasized that the review was intended to ensure that all families, especially the urban poor occupying the lots, are given a fair and sustainable solution.

While the Pag-IBIG arrangement provided financing for beneficiaries to secure ownership, the provincial government is evaluating its long-term viability and compliance with legal processes.

The revival comes months after former governor Gwendolyn Garcia declared the issue resolved.

On April 2, the Pag-IBIG Fund released 22.3 million pesos in checks for 16 beneficiaries, while the provincial government turned over 16 deeds of absolute sale during a “Kaliwaan” ceremony.

Garcia had said at the time that the settlement was the most appropriate solution, stressing that Capitol-owned land could not simply be given away for free.

Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia described the April 2 event as historic, noting that it allowed beneficiaries to finally secure titles to the lots they have long occupied.

The 93-1 controversy has spanned decades, involving repeated negotiations, legal debates, and failed payment schemes.

In 2018, then-governor Hilario Davide III and then-mayor Tomas Osmeña signed a land swap agreement, providing a framework to transfer ownership of 93-1 lots to Cebu City while exchanging key city properties for provincial operations.

That agreement was rescinded in 2019 by Gwendolyn Garcia, who allowed the Pag-IBIG Fund to step in instead.

With the election of Baricuatro and Mayor Nestor Archival earlier this year, the land swap option has been revived.

Both leaders have committed to pursuing this route as a new approach to resolve the long-standing issue.(MyTVCebu)