11 Jul 2009
Leyte province to reclaim properties managed by cityby AHLETTE C. REYES
TACLOBAN CITY - The province's move to repossess its property which for the last five years has been under the management and supervision of the city government of Tacloban, will not be facing a turnabout as the expiration for the memorandum of agreement signed between the two local government drew near.
Leyte Governor Carlos Jericho Petilla said the Sangguniang Panlalawigan has already issued a resolution reminding him of the expiration of the said agreement and giving him authority to reclaim the property for the province.
Gov. Jericho "Icot" Petilla
With this resolution by the Provincial Board, the governor said, he will do just that.
"It is as simple as the fact that the agreement would already expire and as per contract the property should be turned over back to the original owner after the date lapses," Gov. Petilla said.
This the governor disclosed amid talks that this recent development was prompted by the continued rift that occurs between the provincial government and the city government.
It was learned from the governor that it was former Mayor Alfredo "Bejo" Romualdez through former city administrator Jimjim Yaokasin who forged the agreement with the province five years ago.
"And the contract is clear, it is for five years and we're not claiming this just because we want to. We have all the documents regarding this," Gov. Petilla said.
As to the properties constructed and erected inside the property, the governor said, would have to be revert back to the original owner.
He added that as far as he could remember, the agreement provides that before any structure can be built on the property, the city has to ask permission from the owner before any construction starts.
The governor likewise said it would be unfair for Leyte's constituents if the property would not be attended to while adding that it is his duty to stand for the people and protect what belongs to them.
Aside from the Balyuan Park , the location of the City Engineer's Office is also a provincial properties which was already served notice to vacate by the province.
There are also some parts of the Kanhuraw Hill that are properties of the provincial government, he added, though did not particularly mention if it includes the present location of the City Hall.
The governor, however, did not disclose if it is set to reclaim these other properties at the Kanhuraw Hill.
Source:
http://leytesamardaily.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=7721&Itemid=233
TACLOBAN CITY
