Mayor Rama: No need to change committee head

“If it ain’t broke, why fix it?”

That’s how Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama yesterday explained his stand not to change the chairman of the City Council’s budget and finance committee.

He was asked about Councilor Margot Osmeña being invited to take over the committee of Councilor Jose Daluz.

“If the performance of the committee chairman is good, no changes will happen. If it ain’t broken, why fix it?” said Rama.

He, however, said that it was the prerogative of the City Council leadership to agree on the assignment of committee chairmanships.

A shakeup in standing committees may take place in the July 1 session, marking the council’s one year in office.

Based on practice, he said, the committee chairmanship is yielded to the vice chairman and not to a first-time councilor, which Osmeña is.

Margot Osmeña, in an earlier interview, said she was up to the challenge of heading the finance committee after being invited by Daluz, as long as all the councilors assure her of their full support.

Mayor Rama said he didn’t want to question the qualifications of Osmeña but pointed out that the council has guidelines for deciding these matters.

Rama said he invited most of the city councilors to his office last Monday afternoon for a meeting in the aftermath of his declaration of “independence” from the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan.

— But only Councilors Jose Daluz III, Edgar Labella, Rodrigo Abellanosa and Sisinio Andales came.

Others invited, which included among others Edu Rama, Leah Japson and Roberto Cabarrubias, failed to attend the meeting.

Rama said he told the councilors that they would be still be friends even after his leaving Bando Osmena-Pundok Kauswagan.

He also asked them not to block his projects.

Rama said he intends to again meet with BO-PK councilors before he leaves for Israel on June 11 to attend to an invitation by the Israeli ambassador.

“My cordiality with colleagues will not be disturbed. I will make sure that the reign is not disturbed,” he said.

Vice Mayor Augustus “Joy” Young said in an earlier interview that the council does not intend to hamper Rama’s administration for as long as he would only work to benefit the Cebuanos.

Young was hopeful that Rama would soon be able to fix his disagreements with South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña during their “cooling off period.”

If things won’t work, Young said he could assure Rama that the council would not act as obstructionists of his administration.

However, he warned that Rama’s plan to evaluate and reassess the performance of city hall employees and his new directive to make casual workers reapply for employment may only further fan Osmeña’s anger on Rama.

Young also questioned the qualification of people who will spearhead the evaluation process.

Rama said that evaluations will first be conducted at the different city hall departments. Another round of assessment will then by conducted by personnel from the office of the mayor, but he refused to name who they are.

He does not mind earning Osmeña’s anger.

“I am no longer BO-PK. I’ve made that clear,” he said.

Young also said that what was happening in the City Council wasn’t a revamp.

He said that it’s only called a “revamp” when reorganization is needed due to lack of confidence.

“I have confidence in them and as far as I could see for now, there will be no changes in the chairmanship or membership in the different committees in the council because no one is willing to exchange positions,” Young told CDN./with reports from correspondents Edison A. Delos Angeles and Chito O. Aragon