Mary Ann wants nat'l gov't to take over South Road Properties

The Freeman 04/24/2007

Once elected mayor, Mary Ann delos Santos said she would turn over the 295-hectare South Road Properties to the national government so the city will no longer need to pay its daily debt of P1.7 million.

The barangay captain of Lahug announced this plan in a forum attended by different sectors wishing to know the program of government of her and reelectionist Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

Delos Santos believed that with the huge obligation to the Japan Bank for International Cooperation, it would be impossible for the city to progress whoever will sit as mayor.

She said it would be difficult for the city to pay its debt, which is now reportedly reached to over P5 billion, because it could not sell the SRP lots due to the ownership issue.

Tinago barangay captain Joel Garganera, an ally of Delos Santos, had filed a case against Osmeña and the city asking the court to prohibit them from selling the SRP.

Garganera argued that the SRP is still owned by the national government because President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo had no congressional authority when she issued a proclamation order in 2005 transferring the ownership of SRP to the city government.

"Kon dili na kita mobayad sa tag P1.7 milyones matag adlaw, daghan na og kwarta ang syudad nga magamit alang sa mga basic services nga makahatag og kaayohan sa katawhan," said Delos Santos.

But Felix Taguiam of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry described Delos Santos' plan as "anti-business" that could be disadvantageous to the city.

In his reaction to the plan of Delos Santos, Osmeña said: "That's the difference between me and my political opponents. I like to build, they also want to destroy just like the old Ramos market building." - Rene Borromeo/LPM