THE Sangguniang Panglunsod of Dagupan City has uncovered an alarming number of properties that were bought, using public funds, but were never registered in the name of the city government.

Vice Mayor Belen Fernandez, chair of the SP’s en banc budget committee, pointed out that only P88 million worth of properties were mentioned in Dagupan’s audit report.

Based on information gathered by the SP, however, the city bought approximately P120 million more on top of this.

“There are two problems here,” Fernandez said. “The most glaring one, of course, is that the people of Dagupan paid for someting and yet technically, they do not own it. The next is that there are ongoing penalties being charged by the Bureau of Internal Revenue for these properties.”

Among the unregistered properties is a 30-hectare land in Bgy. Awai, San Jacinto, which became the subject of controversy at he atime of its purchase in 2002. Initially envisioend by Mayor Benjamin Lim as a sanitary landfill, the proeprty first drew attention when its selling price balooned from P7 million to P16 million within a matter of days. To further complicate matters, the land was eventually claimed under the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program (CARP), resulting in lawsuits filed against the Dagupan City government.

Curiously, records show that the respondent did not bother to file a motion for reconsideration, thus making the decision final and excutory.

The city government did not seek a refund of the money paid to the seller, Jose Marinao Cuna, who is allegedly a close business associate of Mayor Lim.

“It’s been 10 years and yet the ghost of Awai continues to haunt us,” said Fernandez regading the failed development. To this end, the SP has invited concered city officials to shed light on the procurements in question but they have been unsuccessful in their effort due to the memo issued by the mayor’s office prohibiting officials from attending session without express permission from Mayor Lim.