CEBU CITY, Philippines — The Regional Development Council in Central Visayas is urging the Supreme Court to assign special courts in the region for handling expropriation cases for the Right of Way acquisition of an infrastructure project.
The RDC-7 already requested the Supreme Court to address the issues on delays on expropriation cases in the past, but the state’s highest court only mandated the regional trial courts to handle these cases within seven days of receipt. However, League of the Municipal Mayors Cebu president, Liloan Mayor Christina Garcia-Frasco, said that it would not be wise to sow discord between the RDC-7 and the lower courts over the expropriation cases.Furthermore, the mayor suggests that the local government units be given the power to advance the ROW expenses because most property owners are worried of their taxes.
The RDC-7 would also support the DPWH-7’s request for the national government to release the ROW funds to speed up the implementation of the infrastructure projects.