Town’s public market lot has deed of donation

By Felipe V. Celino

ROXAS CITY, Capiz – The property where the public market of Pres. Roxas, Capiz is situated is covered by a deed of donation, in contradiction to the case filed by some individuals claiming that it is still a private property.

Pres. Roxas Mayor Receliste Escolin confirmed that the local government unit has a certified true copy of the deed of donation which he secured from the National Archives of the Philippines (NAP).

In a press conference Monday, Escolin said the 19,980-square meter property (Lot 1-B-1-D) was donated by Dona Luisa Consing-Locsin in 1956 during the term of former Mayor Jose Viterbo.

Escolin said that it was not easy to search for the documents to prove that the property was indeed a donation to the town.

He said the deed is not a fake credential but authentic, denying the claim of his critics.

“It’s a success on the part of the people of Pres. Roxas because the documents are evidence that this property is truly owned by the local government,” Escolin said.

The mayor is looking ways to answer some of the cases filed against the local government regarding the ownership of the property.

He believes that the court will decide in favor of the government because of the deed of donation document.

Few years ago, the municipal government of Pres. Roxas through Escolin acquired a P100-million loan from a bank to finance the construction of the new market which is presently operational.

But former vice mayor Alfonso Golero filed a case, which is pending in court, questioning the status of the market.

Golero, who acted as the administrator of Locsin’s properties, advised stall owners of the public market to pay their monthly rental directly to the Locsin family because the property where the market is situated is privately owned.

But Escolin advised stall owners not to heed Golero’s advise because it violates municipal ordinances on the operation of the market.