Wednesday, May 14, 2008 Garganera reminds Tomas of claims that SRP is selling
TINAGO Barangay Councilor Joel Garganera said he still has to hear of the sales of land at the South Road Properties (SRP) as promised by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.
In an interview with Sun.Star Cebu, Garganera said Osmeña has been constantly talking about the selling of the SRP.
“He said that April last year that there would be buyers, but until now nobody has bought anything,” he said.
Garganera said that with the debts of the SRP, other important operations and activities of the City Government do not take place, citing ‘Operation Tuli’ (free circumcision) as an example.
Bulk of the City’s first supplemental budget this year goes to the SRP.
Interest
It is broken down into the first payment of the loan this year at P48.793 million, second loan payment of P171.911 million and the interest payment of P63.725 million.
Garganera said that even the North Reclamation Area lots are not yet paid, pointing out that there is a problem with the Commission on Audit (COA).
“I am puzzled that the block is being occupied by the City,” he said.
On the issue on water at the SRP, Garganera said that there “was no drainage system there.”
Osmeña shouldn’t point an accusing finger at the Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD), since the members of the board of directors of MCWD are “his people,” said Garganera.
“I’ve been quiet right after the elections. I’ve kept my mouth shut,” he said.
But now, he just wants to make things clear about the SRP.
Mayor Osmeña has”‘painted a rosy, bright picture” about the SRP, said Garganera, since 1997.
“I do now know how long he (Osmeña) will make the people believe that,” he added.
Last year, Garganera filed a special civil case on the SRP, asking the Regional Trial Court to stop Osmeña, the City Council, the Cebu Investment Promotions Center and the Register of Deeds from marketing, selling, disposing of or leasing the SRP. (EPB)
