‘Govt squatters,’ tenants sit in P2.2 B Capitol lots
‘Time to re-negotiate,’ Tupas Jr. says

By Florence F. Hibionada

Buildings on the left stand on provincial government property for free. The buildings include that of the PNRC, MIWD, Radyo ng Bayan, and Boys Scouts of the Philippines.

Some P2.2 billion in prime property owned by the Iloilo Provincial Government  will soon see some major change and adjustments in the use of its present tenants.

Located at the heart of the city, these “primest of prime” properties have been discovered to have lease agreements and contracts deemed to be greatly disadvantageous to the provincial government with provisions seen as highly irregular and illegal.

In a privilege speech Tuesday, Fifth District Board Member Niel Tupas Jr. rallied for collective support of the Iloilo Sanggunian Panlalawigan (SP), “it is time to re-negotiate these contracts…(tenants) are earning a lot at the expense of the Provincial Government.”

Capitol properties such as the lot occupied by the regional office of the Department of Tourism (DOT), the Philippine National Red Cross (PNRC), the Boys Scouts of the Philippines (BSP), the Metro Iloilo Water District (MIWD), the children’s playground, the Lions park turned into a parking space and the building which houses government station Radyo ng Bayan among others.

With four land titles thus far secured, the Iloilo Provincial Government is owner of some 46,441 square meter lot where the new Capitol building is also located.  The questioned properties are located closeby the new Capitol with status of its use showing glaring violations to the provisions of its lease agreements and Deed of Donations.

Upon personal check made by Tupas Jr., the BSP building granted with a Contract of Lease by then Governor Conrado Norada back in 1975 should have allowed the group the use of 372 square meters only.  Yet actual area now under the BSP is 1,585 square meters with sub-leases on private law firms further discovered.  At P1 per annum, the BSP lease has since expired in 2000.

There is also the regional office of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) as yet another BSP sub-leasee.

And the MIWD office which was granted a Contract of Lease way back in 1956 for a P1 per annum deal of 99 years.  The contract was amended during the administration of then Governor Arthur Defensor in February 15, 1994 that stipulated a 25 year lease.

“At the very least, our water use should be free and that of the Iloilo Rehabilitation Center since the IRC will also transfer soon,” Tupas Jr. said while adding his concern of what he said appeared to be an “onerous” MIWD lease contract.

And more violations as well with the DOT building granted a Deed of Donation back in December of 1992 also by the Defensor administration.

“They were given a 300 square meter lot yet upon personal check, they are now occupying 863 square meters.  I don’t know what happened here,” the Fifth District board member said.

Other prime Capitol lots needing of re-adjustments for better and maximize use of its worth are the Lion’s park occupying 871 square meters of the property valued at least P48,000 per square meter.  No document has been recovered to back up its donation or lease.  It is now used as parking space by clients of the nearby Ramon Avanceña Hall of Justice.

Similar case with the children’s playground right next to the DOT building where some 450 square meters are fenced off and currently houses dilapidated swings and slides.
“We also have no documents on this,” Tupas Jr. continued.
And changes too must be made, said board member, on yet another Iloilo Provincial Government lease made with the National Irrigation Administration (NIA) whose office sits in a 3,293 square meter Capitol property.  Reason? The NIA lease stipulates a “perpetual usufruct” which Tupas Jr. said should have a specified period of at least 50 years maximum.

“It is worth the look in aid of legislation and as our way of looking after our properties,” he ended.  As such, an inventory is in the offing with the matter referred to the Committees on Ways and Means, General Services and Legal Matters.