Cebu City Hall sits on untitled land

CEBU CITY—City officials have just discovered that the city government has no title to the land being occupied by City Hall buildings for years.

What they have is a tax declaration, which only proves that the city is paying real property taxes for the land, with an area of more than one hectare, on Magallanes Street in the downtown area.

Mayor Michael Rama has ordered the General Services Office (GSO) to immediately secure the requirements, and have the property titled under the name of the city government.

City officials discovered last month that the city did not officially own the property that houses the executive and legislative buildings and the Plaza Sugbo, a small park located between City Hall and the historic Magellan’s Cross.

This came after general services chief Rolando Ardosa ordered his staff to go over the city’s landholdings to check which are not covered by titles so the city could avail itself of the remedies stated under Republic Act No. 10023, or the Free Patent Act, which authorizes the issuance of free patents to residential lands.

The law, signed into law by then President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo on March 9, 2010, eases the requirements and procedures in the titling of residential lands.

To their surprise, the city officials found that the property on Magallanes was not titled.

“Yes, the City Hall (property) has no land title. We are only holding a tax declaration,” Ardosa said.

However, he gave assurance that the city was working to secure the titles.

Mayor Rama acknowledged that he, too, was not aware of the situation.

“We all had functions before (he became mayor) and the job to secure the land title for the City Hall is a job of the mayor. That is the reason I am telling the GSO to prioritize it. Why wasn’t it secured before me? Ask the mayor before me,” he said.

Rama, who had as served councilor and vice mayor before being elected mayor last year, was referring to his predecessor—Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district, an ally who is now his political nemesis.

But the congressman was quick to turn the tables to Rama when sought for comment.

“You should ask Don Vicente Rama why, when he sponsored legislation creating the city, he didn’t check that the city hall lot was not owned by the city,” Osmeña said.

Don Vicente Rama, grandfather of the incumbent mayor, fought to establish Cebu as a chartered city 74 years ago.

City administrator Jose Marie Poblete gave assurance that the property is owned by the city.

“Land title is a just a material proof of owning the land. Just because the city doesn’t have it doesn’t mean that the city doesn’t own the land,” Poblete said.

He added no one has come to their office and claimed ownership of the property.