Farewell, Ma’am Babes

Last Sunday, I attended the cremation of the late Purita “Ma’am Babes” Sanchez at the Rolling Hills Funeral Homes in Mandaue city. Her  untimely death is a great loss to the cause of women and children.

I remembering meeting Ma’am Babes through her husband Dr. Melanio Sanchez when we  established the organization called Men Opposed to Violence against Women and Children (MOVAWC) way back in the ’90s.

Babes was crucial to the existence and sustainability of  MOVAWC. She and Dr. Sanchez, encouraged us to attend relevant seminars as participants or resource persons.  Babes inspired and encouraged many men to combat violence against women and children.

She was a very loving wife to Dr. Sanchez and a doting mother to her children. It’s  difficult to forget her because she practically was a mother to all the members of  MOVAWC. I can say without fear of being contradicted that she was the woman behind  MOVAWC.

Thank you and goodbye, Ma’am Babes. May the good Lord bring you to his eternal kingdom. We love you and shall miss you.

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Congressman Tommy Osmeña announced last weekend his proposal to build a tunnel under Soriano Street and widen F. Sotto Street to pave the way for the construction of a flyover in the area.

This is a welcome development especially for Cebu City, and we are hoping that the congressman would start working things out with the city government for a more comprehensive development of the city.

We are also hoping that Congressman Osmeña gets the support of the Department of Public Works and Highways for the project. But it should be considered in the context of a master plan for the city that Mayor Mike Rama is pushing for.

I also hope Congressman Tommy would consider consulting Cebu City constituents about his proposal, especially those who have banded together under the Mega Cebu project and Movement for a Livable Cebu.

Congressmen  should consult local government units before setting up infrastructure in their localities.

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Finance Secretary Purisima has again ignored the wishes of  Mayor Mike Rama in appointing a new city treasurer.

Purisima replaced incumbent treasurer Ofelia Oliva with Tessie Camarillo, who, the mayor declared, has lost his confidence.

I don’t  know if Purisima knows the politics  in Cebu City. What he did violates  the principle of local autonomy and was a slap on Mayor Rama who belongs to the Liberal Party of  President Benigno Aquino III.

If the administration party continues to disregard the authority of local chief executives, it would not be  a surprise if many  local government officials abandon the LP.

The President should take a direct hand to correct the mistake committed by his secretary on this matter. He should listen to the  complaints of LP members  who are also elected local officials.

I think politics is behind Oliva’s  replacement.  We all know  that Congressman Osmeña was behind her being  replaced the first time around. It won’t be surprising if Osmeña did it again.

Partisan politics is  rearing its ugly head although the election is  more than a year away.  I  really hope that our politicians just work for the welfare and interest of the populace.