Solon wants SRP deal probe to finish by Christmas Cebu Daily News
July 05, 2009
CONGRESS will frequently hold hearings on the joint venture deal between the Cebu City government and Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) in the South Road Properties (SRP) so they could finish their inquiry before their Christmas break.
Rep. Pablo John Garcia of Cebu's third district said he will also ask the House committee on good government to hold the hearings in Cebu City for transparency and accessibility to Cebu City residents.
“Congress is still on recess now, but I've talked to the (leadership of the) committee on good government and they have assured me upon the resumption of our session, we shall immediately calendar this for initial hearing,” said Garcia.
Garcia earlier called for an investigation on the joint venture agreement which he said lumped both the outright sale of the 10.6 hectare pond f and the 40 hectare property.
The Cebuano legislator said the joint venture agreement was not only irregular but highly disadvantageous to the city government especially since the city.
Garcia said the city government didn’t allow challengers like the Cebu provincial government to challenge Filinvest's unsolicited proposal.
Congress resumes session on July 27 when President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo delivers her annual State of the Nation Address (Sona).
Garcia was confident that an initial hearing could already be scheduled in August.
Among those to be invited are Andrew Gutianon of Filinvest and acting mayor Michael Rama who signed the JV agreement and the councilors who authorized Rama to represent the city in the JV agreement./Reporter Doris C. Bongcac
