News Briefs

Garcias to serve as Rama advisors

THE Garcia family will confine themselves as advisers to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, who announced his lineup for next year’s elections in a gathering of vendors last Saturday.

Rama said he wants to implement the projects started by former city mayor Alvin Garcia, head of the Kugi Uswag Sugbu (Kusug) party. He also offered Garcia’s elder son Jess Garcia a slot in his Team Rama lineup.

Among Garcia’s projects are the waterfront development covering the port area, Malacañang sa Sugbu and the nearby Carbon market center.  Another project involves opening an access road parallel to the M. Velez Road.

Rama said the road opening starts in Guadalupe barangay hall and will connect barangays Capitol Site and Lahug respectively.

A second road project will connect Don Gil Garcia Street located across Cebu Doctors’ Hospital, to the Department of Agriculture (DA) compound and then to M. Velez Street.

Rama said Garcia also agrees with his plan to preserve the Gotiaco building located across the City Hall executive building and convert this into a Chinese museum.

He said the younger Garcia begged off from joining his slate because he was tied up with activities at his law office. Team Rama still lacks a north district congressional candidate.

Rama said he still has more than six months to complete his slate before the filing of Certificates of Candidacies (COCs) in October.

“It is not final even after we file our COCs because there could still be substitution,” he said. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

School board wants to keep out Young

THE Local School Board (LSB) said it will remind the office of Cebu City Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young to cease their involvement in their activities.

Ester Cubero, whom Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama appointed as LSB chairperson, said personnel from the vice mayor’s office went to their office to verify recipients of the P1,000 allowance.

The city issued the amount to 3,500 scholars enrolled with the Asian College of Technology (ACT) on Friday. Rama moved the LSB under his office, dropping Young from the board.

She denied Young’s accusations that they lacked preparation in the distribution of allowances.

The city government has 12,500 scholars enrolled in different colleges and universities who each receive P10,000 in aid per semester. Rama authorized the release of P1,000 allowance to scholars to help in their school supplies.

The release of allowances started in October 2011. Cubero said Young’s office still has possession of the master list of scholars.

She said Young was reminded to turn over the documents to the LSB after he was dropped from the roster.

Cubero said last Saturday’s allocation at the legislative building turned unruly after some scholars wanted to be prioritized.

Cubero said the documents turned over to her remain in a box because she still has to find an office space for LSB. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

Filinvest payment woes

THE refusal of Filinvest Land Inc. (FLI) to pay P245.2 million to Cebu City Hall this year may affect the city’s bigger obligations like debt servicing for the South Road Properties (SRP).

City treasurer Ofelia Oliva said the treasury office would have to prepare a “fallback” should they fail to collect Filinvest’s money.

The city government already made a P300 million amortization for its SRP in February.  Another payment of P280 million would be made in August.

Oliva said she already sent a demand letter asking Filinvest to already pay the city. She would meet with the Local Finance Committee anytime to discuss their next move.

Mayor Michael Rama maintains his confidence that Filinvest would later agree to pay the city. “There is an obligation so we will always be expecting payments,” he said.

Rama said he is also consulting his legal advisors about plans to charge Filinvest interest for delayed payments.

Filinvest is supposed to pay the city government P245.2 million this year as fourth payment of their amortization for the acquisition of properties at the South Road Properties (SRP).

Their payment was already due on March 11 said Asst. City Treasurer Emma Villarete. Filinvest makes its payment once a year. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac