Implement Mega Cebu

I welcome the proposal for a Mega Cebu where 13 component cities and municipalities unite to come up with a more sensibly developed Cebu.

Our local government units need to address common  concerns like flooding, traffic and garbage disposal. Working together could make things happen in these localities. In Cebu City, Mayor Mike Rama is taking the lead in involving the city in the Mega Cebu project despite the absence of a nod from the City Council  in the hope that the council would  see the logic and advantages of the project, and eventually approve Cebu City’s  membership in the Metro Cebu Development Council.

Rama no longer minds who are the members of or who leads the council. What is important for him is for those concerned to put their heads  together in addressing urban  problems of the city and municipalities. Congressman Tommy Osmeña is cold to the Mega Cebu project saying  Cebu City is too big for it and that  he doesn’t  agree that the city should have the same vote as Consolacion town.

But Rama is looking at what is common to local government units so they could work together for rational development.  For Rama, Cebu City is also responsible for the progress of neighboring towns for it is in sharing that we achieve greatness for Cebu City and the Province of Cebu in general.

I just had a talk with a lawyer of a bid company in our country who  he commented about the progress of the impeachment trial of  Chief Justice Renato Corona, particularly his  dollar accounts.  He said that if Corona  had nothing to hide, all he could have done was open the accounts to scrutiny by the impeachment court rather than hide behind the  dollar account secrecy law.

The fact that Corona did not agree to have his dollar account opened showed that indeed he may have a substantial dollar deposit whose source would be  difficult to explain.

Another revelation in the impeachment trial was the narration of Justice Secretary Leila de Lima on how the chief justice manipulated the temporary restraining order it issued against the hold departure order from the Justice Department.

The Senate President made an important ruling when he allowed the testimony of De Lima to remain on the  record despite the fact that the defense called it hearsay considering the impeachment trial is not a criminal hearing.  The best thing that the defense could do now is to object to whatever the prosecution is dishing out in the hope that they would be able to block any revelation that might be damaging to the cause of the chief justice.

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Former senator Ernesto Maceda visited Cebu recently and appeared in the 888 News Forum. He said a  mouthful about the President and his administration. From  the tone of his  voice,   the group of Vice President Jejomar Binay is working against the President.  They are against the impeachment of Corona because they think it would work wonders for Mar Roxas, Binay’s perceived opponent for the presidency in 2016.

Maceda came out swinging and even questioned the psychological fitness of the President.  Maceda had no good words for Aquno.  I am not  sure if the President is aware of the political posturing of the members of Binay’s group, who campaigned for Joseph Estrada’s  failed presidenctial bid in 2010.

The group  may be working with someone with a  political agenda contrary to the interests of the country.