The Cebu Provincial Government has established a technical working group (TWG) to revive long-stalled negotiations with Cebu City regarding the decades-old 93-1 land swap dispute. The announcement was made by Provincial Administrator Joseph Felix Durano on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
TWG Mandate and Key Issues
Durano stated that the TWG's primary objective is to continue discussions with the city government to move forward with the property exchange. He emphasized that the main hurdle remains the valuation of properties involved. "First, (the TWG should work on) an acceptable valuation to the provincial government on the properties offered to Cebu City and also, for Cebu City to accept the valuations as well of the properties owned by the provincial government and owned by Cebu City Government," Durano explained.
He stressed that any exchange must be equitable, stating, "It should be value for value."
Executive Order and Background
The TWG was created under Governor Pamela Baricuatro's Executive Order No. 4, one of her first 12 issuances upon taking office in June 2025. The order established a task force to study and propose a long-term solution to the dispute. Durano noted that property valuation remains the central issue that must be resolved before any exchange can proceed.
Land Details
According to Durano, 1,473 lots have already been sold, while the remaining sellable area covers 460,232.24 hectares out of a total of 511,273 hectares. The TWG will handle the technical and legal evaluation of the properties involved.
Impact on Occupants
When asked about the timeline, Durano acknowledged the urgency: "This has been pending for the longest time. For their peace of mind, the occupants want things settled. They will have their own deal, whether with the provincial government or the Cebu City government."
TWG Composition
The TWG will be composed of officials from the Assessor's Office, Legal Office, General Services Office, Office of the Governor, and members of the Provincial Board.
Historical Context
The 93-1 program was enacted through Provincial Ordinance 93-1 in 1993, allowing urban poor residents to acquire lots owned by the provincial government across 11 barangays in Cebu City. These barangays include Busay, Luz, Lahug, Mabolo, Apas, Lorega, Kasambagan, Capitol Site, Tejero, Kamputhaw, and Kalunasan.
In August 2018, then Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and former Governor Hilario Davide III signed a major land swap agreement to resolve the issue. Under that deal, the province agreed to donate 32 hectares of occupied lots to the city in exchange for prime properties, including parcels in the South Road Properties (SRP) and Mabolo.
However, in April 2025, former Governor Gwendolyn Garcia announced that the Capitol had withdrawn from the 2018 agreement due to discrepancies. She also imposed a deadline limiting eligibility to occupants with active Pag-IBIG Fund housing loan applications.
