Councilors will attend Soca

Expect a bigger attendance in today’s State of the City Address (Soca) of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said he and 14 Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) councilors agreed during a fellowship dinner on Wednesday to attend the mayor’s Soca after all.

“We decided to attend the Soca because we just want to find out what the mayor has to say,” he said.

“Majority of the councilors said that they are attending the Soca also because it is an official function,” said Young.

Councilor Alvin Dizon in an earlier interview said the “majority” of councilors would just send staff members on their behalf to the Soca.

City Hall employees and urban poor groups were asked to attend the mayor’s Soca in a June 28 memorandum from the Office of City Administrator Jose Mari Poblete.

City Hall employees were told to wear white T-shirts or blouses.

“Attendance is a must,” the memo read.

Notices were posted in the civil registrar’s office informing the public that work would be suspended this afternoon and that the office “will be back in operation on Monday.”

The Division for the Welfare of the Urban Poor sent written invitations to urban poor groups for the Soca.

“There will be Kaoshiung buses that will ferry you back and forth from the area to the venue. Pickup time is 1 p.m. at your place,” said the letter.

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said his critics should let him deliver his Soca before they rate his first year in office.

“Wait first. I haven’t even spoken yet. How can they issue a grade when I have not yet given my Soca?”’

He said that his address, expected to last about 45 minutes, would discuss the accomplishments of his year-old administration, what he is doing now and what he intends to do next year.

Rama said he wanted everyone to listen to his Soca because “it is everybody’s.”

He denied compelling City Hall employees and urban poor groups to attend.

He said he did not order the suspension of work in City Hall offices on Friday afternoon.

Government employees are encouraged to attend the Soca but a skeletal force would be left to make sure that important City Hall offices would remain open to the public.

Among those invited to the Soca are Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia and members of the Regional Development Council, which Rama chairs.

“I hope she will come,” the mayor said, referring to Garcia.

He said he was also hopeful that Rep. Tomas Osmeña of Cebu City’s south district, Vice Mayor Young and council members would also be around.

“They can come if they have time. I hope they received their invitations.”