Cebu Daily News / News

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Osmeña told to fulfill SRP promise Cebu Daily News Posted date: September 05, 2008 OPPOSITION barangay Tinago councilor has challegned Mayor Tomas Osmeña to a dare. Joel Garganera, who belongs to the opposition Kugi Uswag Sugbo, said he would quit his post if Mayor Osmeña could sell lots in the South Road Properties 300-hectare SRP. But he said the mayor would also step down if Osmeña fails to sell any lots this year. Garganera blamed the the loan obligations for the reclamation project, worth at least P6 billion. Garganera said the city will have to pay P500 million a year for the SRP loan. The city has paid at least P1.75 billion since 1996 but several projects in the city were also affected. Among these are ramp at the Carbon market worth about P135 million and the repair of the Cebu City Sports Complex rubberized oval, which cost about P30 million. “Because the city is bankrupt, we don’t have the capacity to host a national sports event. Lupig ta sa Dumaguete ug Bohol,” Garganera said. He said Osmeña’s plan to sell the Cebu City Medical Center was prompted by financial woes brought about by the SRP loans. Garganera pointed out that last January, Osmeña and Cebu Investment Promotions Center managing director Joel Mari Yu had declared that the city and developers of mixed-use projects would be ready to enter into a contract of sale by the first and second quarters of 2008. But the barangay councilor said the first half of the year has passed and still no sale has taken place. The mayor again promised that the city would enter into a joint venture agreement by end of August, said Garganera. But it is already September but no joint venture materialized. A few weeks ago, Garganera said the mayor announced that in the next few days or weeks, the city will reveal the proposal of the sale of SRP lots which will earn the city around P3.2 billion. “When will these promises be fulfilled? What is the real score?” Garganera asked. But Osmeña just brushed off Garganera's allegations. “That is the most ridiculous statement I have heard. He is just a barangay councilor and I am the city mayor, why should I risk my position to that,” Osmeña told . Although he could not say any details regarding the sale as instructed by the buyer he promised that a property will be sold within the year. He said that the city has managed the financial statements very well and bragged about the award given by the Bureau of Local Government and Finance (BLGF). Osmeña also belied Garganera's claims that the basic services of the city were affected with the loans the city government is paying for the SRP. “He should check his facts first because I recently gave a garbage compactor for barangay Tinago and gave out burial assistance,” Osmeña said. /Correspondent Chris A. Ligan with a report from Reporter Marian Z. Codilla