CEBU CITY Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia is hopeful that the City Council will approve the memorandum of agreement (MOA) allowing Mayor Michael Rama to sign the 93-1 land swap deal with the Cebu Provincial Government before March 25, 2022.The Cebu City Government is aiming to address the long-standing problem of those living in the controversial lots just before the beginning of the campaign period for local candidates.Garcia, who is running for vice mayor of Cebu City this coming May 2022 elections, and Mayor Michael Rama’s consultant lawyer Colin Rosell were tasked by the mayor to prepare the documents needed for the land swap deal with the Cebu Provincial Government.Waiting for City CouncilGarcia said Rama is waiting for the City Council’s approval to allow the City to sign the MOA on the land swap deal with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.Garcia said he already consulted with the officials of various homeowners associations in Barangay Apas on Wednesday, March 2, 2022, regarding the matter.Around 5,000 families have been occupying the controversial 93-1 lots for more than 30 years already.Garcia said this time they would make sure not to violate the law in signing the MOA.To recall, the 93-1 land swap deal was previously signed by former mayor Tomas Osmeña and former governor and now Vice Gov. Hilario “Junjun” Davide III in August 2018, but the deal was voided after the Commission on Audit (COA) found that the two local government units made it without prior consent from state auditors.Garcia said after Osmeña was defeated by the late Cebu City mayor Edgardo Labella in the May 2019 election, the deed of donation and acceptance of the properties involved in the deal was not implemented due to legal issues. (PAC / TPT)