Nacaya frowns over minority backdown

By NITZ ARANCON
and LITO RULONA
Correspondents

COUNCILOR Ian Mark Nacaya frowned over the move of three councilors to withdraw their support for an ordinance that gave Mayor Oscar Moreno the authority to strike a deal for the purchase of a P27.5-million property in Lumbia.

If plans don’t miscarry, the 10-hectare property, owned by the Gador family, would be turned into a relocation site for over 700 families who survived the 2011 Typhoon Sendong devastation in the city. Some 722 houses would be put in place there by the government with aid from Japan.

“Bad precedent,” said Nacaya of the withdrawal of support for City Ordinance 2016-1 by councilors Leon Gan, Nadya Elipe and Lordan Suan.

Just a week ago, the three councilors voted in favor of the ordinance authored by Councilor Edna Dahino.

On Monday, the councilors belonging to the city council minority said they had a change of mind because of alleged overpricing.

Gan, the minority floor leader, said the property has a value of only P110 to P155 per square meter but city hall would buy it for P265 per square meter. He alleged that the land value was padded by about 140 percent.

“Mo-withdraw ako sa akong pagbotar sa maong ordinansa… kay dili ko gusto nga ma-apil sa kaso niining kuwestiyonable nga transaction,” Gan told the city council on Monday afternoon.

Nacaya, the majority floor leader, said Gan’s allegation of overpricing was baseless but he agreed that the matter be referred to the city council’s finance committee chaired by Councilor Dahino.

Gan wanted the city council to include in its Monday agenda his proposal for the repeal of the Dahino ordinance but councilors voted, 8-5, against the move.

Councilors who voted against the inclusion of the item in the agenda were councilors Nacaya, Dahino, Reuben Daba, George  Goking, Romeo Caliso, Ma. Lourdes Gaane, Jay Pascual and Zaly Ocon.

Those who favored it were Councilors Gan, Elipe, Suan, Teodulfo Lao Jr., Enrico Salcedo, Yan Lam Lim and Dometilo Acenas Jr..

Councilors Suzette Daba and Annie Daba abstained.

Gan said he checked with the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) after the ordinance was approved, and he was informed that the zonal value at Sitio Pahiran, Barangay Lumbia is P155 per square meter.

But he said the assessment value or appraisal report from the City Assessor’s Office placed the value at P420 per square meter.

Gan said he also learned that the property is an agricultural land that was assessed as a residential property.

“Nakurat kita sa atong nahibaw-an mao ang una nga rason ngano nga mi-withdraw kita sa atong supporta,” he said.

He said the assessor’s office issued new tariff this year without the approval of the city council. The last one was issued in 2002.

“If we base it on the approved BIR zonal value which is P155, bloated gihapon ang P265 per square meter,” Gan said.

Nacaya however said there was nothing wrong with the assessor’s office’s assessment of P420 per square meter. He noted that the price was lowered to P265 per square meter following negotiations.

The price, according to Nacaya, “is just and fair.” He also said he doubted Gan’s allegation of overpricing.

“Ang mga biktima sa Sendong man ang maka-benepisyo ani dili ang city government. Dugay na naghulat ang gobyerno sa Hapon sa ilang gi-donate nga mga housing units. Dili pud maayo nga ma-withdraw ang 722 units kay anugon kayo,” Nacaya said.

He also criticized members of the majority during the last city council, saying the same allegations made by Gan were already looked into but to no avail.

“Wala sila’y napagawas nga documentary evidence regarding this allegation og maulaw kita kay hapit na upat ka-tuig wala pa gyud matukod og mahatag ang maong relocation site sa uban nga Sendong survivors,” Nacaya said.