Status quo seen at SRP

A CHANGE in Cebu City’s political landscape doesn’t mean a change in the management of the city government’s prized South Road Properties (SRP), at least for now.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said yesterday that he will meet with the current SRP management committee consisting of Cebu Investments and Promotion Center (CIPC) officials and SRP operations manager Loubert Tan.

He said he wants to be clarified on how the 300-hectare reclamation project is being run.

Tan is a former member of the Mayor’s Management Team (MMT) that was created by former mayor and now Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district. Osmeña later appointed Tan in the SRP.

Rama’s staff said they were always the last to to know about SRP programs such as the SRP Cebu fest.

Osmeña, who conceived of the SRP, earlier stopped Rama from selling lots at the SRP since there were no establishments built in the site yet.
Rama said the CIPC under Joel Mari Yu will remain the marketing arm of the SRP.

The CIPC receives P3 million in annual funding from Cebu City for its marketing and daily management.

The city government hired two consultants to handle the landscape and environmental management of the SRP.

CIPC managing director Joel Mari Yu said he welcomes Rama’s planned assessment.

“He is the mayor, he can do what he wants,” Yu told Cebu Daily News.

He said the mayor is updated on every SRP transaction.

Osmeña, who said Rama lacks his vision of the SRP, said yesterday that he continues to monitor SRP developments.

He said he is even spending congressional funds to plant coconut trees and decorate these with bright-colored lights.

Though no longer mayor, Osmeña said he continues to plan for the SRP’s development.

He said he will visit Singapore and China to learn how they manage projects similar to the SRP. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac and Correspondent Fatrick Tabada