Established Assistance Platform for Inhabitants of District 93-1
Rewritten Article:
Raymond Alvin Garcia, Cebu City's current mayor, has taken a significant step towards resolving the long-standing issue of land ownership for thousands of residents living on lots covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1. On May 6, 2025, he signed Executive Order 14, establishing a 93-1 Action Center and Help Desk to expedite document processing for these residents who have lived on these Province-owned lots for over three decades without formal titles.
With close to 5,000 residents set to benefit from this move, the new center and help desk will work in collaboration with the City Assessor's Office (CAO), Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP), City Treasurer's Office (CTO), and City Legal Office (CLO). City Administrator Kristine Joyce Batucan has been named the chairperson of the 93-1 Action Force, while Councilor Renato Osmena serves as vice-chair. Other members include Nova Batiller from the CAO, Ronald Anthony Librando from the DWUP, Mare Vae Reyes from the CTO, and Santiago Ortiz from the CLO.
Each homeowners' association will designate a liaison officer to act as a bridge between the association and the City for communication and information sharing.
While the establishment of the 93-1 Action Center and Help Desk brings hope to the residents, there is uncertainty regarding the feasibility of these lots, with 93-1 movement president Emily Malto expressing concern that most residents cannot afford them.
The roots of the 93-1 program date back to Provincial Ordinance 93-1, enacted in 1993, which allowed residents occupying provincial lots to purchase the land after completing full payments within a specified period. Delays, shifting political leadership, and policy changes have stalled the program for decades.
Significant milestones in the program's history include a land swap agreement between the Provincial Government and the City Government in 2016 and 2018, as well as renewed negotiations initiated by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia in 2022. Governor Garcia set a final deadline of March 7, 2025, for residents to complete their Pag-Ibig Fund housing loan applications, a critical step for securing the land.
The 93-1 Action Center and Help Desk aims to resolve these long-standing issues by offering residents a dedicated venue for completing paperwork, seeking guidance, and tracking their progress towards formal land ownership. Executive Order 14 takes immediate effect and remains in force until amended or revoked, with all previous city policies inconsistent with the order being repealed or modified accordingly.
References:[1] https://www.philstar.com/cebu-news/2022/04/24/2172463/cebu-city-mayor-to-sign-executive-order-on-931-program-starting-this-week[2] https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1576727/66d-interest-loan-should-not-be-part-of-93-1-agreement-beneficiaries-say[3] https://www.gmanetwork.com/news/news/regions/786597/cebu-city-mayor-traces-roots-of-93-1-program-to-1993/story/
- The government of Cebu City, led by Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, has initiated a policy-and-legislation move in 2025, as seen in Executive Order 14, to restart the 93-1 program for thousands of barangay residents living on lots covered by Provincial Ordinance 93-1.
- The signed order establishes a 93-1 Action Center and Help Desk, aiming to expedite document processing for these beneficiaries who have lived on these Province-owned lots for over three decades without formal titles.
- The newly formed center will collaborate with various city departments, including the City Assessor's Office, Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor, City Treasurer's Office, and City Legal Office.
- Each homeowners' association will designate a liaison officer to act as a bridge between the association and the City for communication and information sharing.
- With the 2025 deadline set by Governor Gwendolyn Garcia for residents to complete their Pag-Ibig Fund housing loan applications, general news outlets are eager to monitor the progress of the 93-1 Action Center and Help Desk to see if it will finally resolve the long-standing issues surrounding the 93-1 program.
