Apas barangay captain issues clearance for Ciudad

APAS barangay captain Ramil Ayuman said he signed a barangay clearance for Fifth Avenue Property Corp., which is planning the Cuidad project along Governor Cuenco Avenue in Cebu City.

However, Ayuman said he did not issue the barangay clearance dated April 12, 2011, in defiance of former mayor and now Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña who opposes the Cuidad project.

“I do not want to pick a fight with the congressman because I highly respect him. I became a barangay captain because of him,” he said.
Ayuman said he does not want to intervene in the word war between Osmeña and Gov. Gwen Garcia which stalled the project.

“They have different points of view but I gave weight to the benefits that our barangay and the whole city of Cebu will reap when I signed the barangay clearance,” he said.

He was referring to potential jobs and revenues that his constituents would get from the project.
Fifth Avenue paid P500 for their barangay clearance application.

Ayuman said he also expects to earn fees from business permit applications from future lessors of the Cuidad project, which is expected to increase the barangay’s annual income of P11 million.

“If we do not accept their application, they might apply with barangay Lahug,” he said.

The Capitol lot where the Cuidad project would be built is beside Asiatown IT Park, which barangay Lahug claims as part of their barangay.
Ayuman said he met with Michael Dino, Fifth Avenue president, last month to inquire about the P1.2 billion Ciudad project before acting on their application for a barangay clearance.

He said Dino showed him a PowerPoint presentation of the project and furnished him a copy of the traffic study conducted by Pedro Adonis Compendio to determine how the project would affect traffic along the Banilad-Talamban Corridor.

The traffic study showed a plan to open three access roads at the Asiatown IT Park.

A fourth access road is proposed at the Central Command Compound.

Ayuman said that the development project would also have an eight-meter setback from Governor Cuenco Avenue.

Ayuman said structures in the Ciudad compound would have a Spanich-era theme.

The buildings would have brick walls. A replica of Casa Gorordo, Colon Street and old houses in Carcar City may be found in the compound while security guards would be dressed as Spanish-era guards.

It would also have a three-story museum to display the works of Cebuano artists and a hotel with furniture designed by Kenneth Cobonpue.

“IF you look at the designs, you would forget that politicians are fighting,” said Ayuman.

Dino, Ayuman said, promised to prioritize Apas residents for employment.

An area in the development project would house Apas vendors who sell balot and offer shoeshine services.
Performers from barangay Apas would be tapped for cultural shows.

A barangay clearance is a requisite for the issuance a locational clearance by Cebu City Hall.

Other requirements include a duly accomplished locational clearance application form, parking data, lot title certification, lot tax declaration, geodetic sketch plan, bill of materials, building permit application form and architectural plan.

With the issuance of a locational clearance, the applicant can apply for a building permit from the Office of the building official.