Cebu Archdiocese opens door for development of church-owned lands

• Source:http://www.pna.gov.ph/index.php?nid=2&rid=898340
• Friday, June 24, 2016

(PNA), LAP/EB/PJN

CEBU CITY, June 24 (PNA) -- Cebu Archbishop Jose Palma Palma on Thursday said the church is opening the door for developers who are interested to develop the idle properties of the Archdiocese of Cebu scattered around Cebu Province.

But Palma said he could not cite the total size of the Archdiocese-owned land, saying that these lands are in chunks.

“We are throwing the idea at the moment. Anybody who would hear of it and is interested can come to us,” Palma said.

He said whatever proceeds it can get from the dealings would be distributed to the pastoral and mercy works of the church.

Palma issued the statement during the launching of the PHP3-billion 23 Minore Park, which will host an international hotel chain, a Landers superstore, an outdoor chapel and a park.

It will rise inside a two-hectare property of the Archdiocese of Cebu, where St. John XXIII Seminary in Mabolo used to stand.

The property will be developed under a 25-year build-operate-transfer (BOT) scheme with Cebu-based developer Duros Land Properties Inc.

But Palma said the church is not selling the lands, but welcomes a BOT scheme with developers in the same way the 23 Minore Park operates.

Palma cited Patria de Cebu, a church property in front the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral in downtown Cebu City, as part of its properties it is willing to open up for development.

“The point is land is not being used to the best of its potential. What we can do to have the optimum benefit from that area, we will do it because that’s how we ought to be real stewards,” Palma said.