Archival to reopen 93-1 dispute, revisit land swap

CEBU, Philippines — As Cebu City prepares for the change in leadership, Mayor-elect Nestor Archival has announced plans to reopen the long-standing ownership dispute over the 93-1 lots, insisting the city rightfully owns the properties and that the 2016 land-swap agreement should be upheld.

Although the outgoing administrations of Cebu Province and Cebu City have claimed that issues surrounding the 93-1 lots have been resolved and loan negotiations are in progress, Archival maintains that the lots already belong to the city.

“Because we already have that agreement already with the city and the Provincial already nga naa natay exchange,” said Archival in the Openline news forum yesterday.

Archival said he recently met with Governor-elect Pamela Baricuatro in an "introductory meeting" and among the key joint issues they discussed were the 93-1 lots and the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project.

He added that Baricuatro committed to honor the land-swap agreement. Archival said the next step would be to meet with the homeowners’ association to restart negotiations. He said the cost of the lots would be set under socialized housing prices, in line with the Urban Housing Act.

Archival noted that the previous provincial administration had claimed Cebu City lacked the authority to lower the price of the lots due to zoning classifications. He argued that the lots would be significantly more affordable if priced under urban housing guidelines.

He also said the proposed price of P6,000 per square meter is unreasonable. Archival pointed out that most residents do not meet the requirements for Pag-IBIG Fund loan applications, making it difficult for them to purchase the lots.

While some residents have started their loan applications under the outgoing administration’s negotiations, Archival said most complied “out of fear.”

“But take note out of the 6,000 families which are occupying the area, only 17 (began their loan applications), pila ka porsyento lang na,” said Archival.

“It’s more of nakuyawan sila nga tangtangon sila within the area,” he added.

He further assured the public that there will be no demolitions within the 93-1 lots under his administration.

It can be remembered that while questions remain about the fate of the 93-1 beneficiaries, outgoing Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has maintained that the matter has been “resolved.”

In an interview, Garcia said there is no legal basis to reduce the loan amount for the purchase of the 93-1 lots. He explained that Cebu City no longer handles the procurement process, which is now under the jurisdiction of the Cebu Provincial Government, with the city providing legal assistance.

Garcia said the PAG-IBIG loan process requires several documents—such as tax declarations and subdivision plans—which have already been issued to the occupants. He added that residents of the Kalunasan lot have agreed to pay the negotiated price of around P12,000 per square meter.

Regarding the 2016 land-swap deal, Garcia said the city government cannot unilaterally set the lot prices, as the valuation is determined by PAG-IBIG and the Commission on Audit (COA).

He recalled that the land-swap agreement was revoked due to the absence of COA consent, which is required for such transactions. COA, he emphasized, plays a critical role in determining land valuations.

In the same forum, Archival revisited his campaign promises, which he pledged to begin fulfilling as Cebu City’s incoming mayor.

During his first 100 days, Archival said he will prioritize increasing city revenue—not by raising taxes, but by improving collection efficiency.

He also plans to streamline operations at City Hall, aiming to reduce processing times for frontline services. One of his specific goals is to enable same-day issuance of business permits.

Regarding the long-delayed Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC), Archival promised to complete the building within one year to enhance the city’s healthcare services. He said this effort is part of their broader goal to expand medical coverage for Cebu City residents.

Archival noted that while multiple contractors are handling different phases of CCMC construction, coordination with consultants and a thorough construction audit are necessary moving forward.

Addressing the City Hall workforce, Archival said he has been informed that over 10,000 employees are currently on the payroll. He said a status quo will be maintained for the first three months of his term as they evaluate whether there are enough funds to support the workforce.

“Kay there are a lot of complaints right now nga ang atong mga empleyado especially the Job Orders, wala sila ma sweldohi and we are going to check unsa man gyud ang Job description sa mga tawo nga naa sa city hall?” said Archival.

The employment status quo, he added, will remain in effect until the review is completed.— (FREEMAN)