Newsbriefs

Rama open to join rosaries

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama said he can join the Saturday rosary prayers and “aurora” vigil spearheaded by the nuns of Asillo Dela Milagrosa if he’s invited.

“As long as I am here, I am willing to join, but I will need a written invitation since I could just not go there without being invited,” Rama said.

Starting Oct. l, the nuns will hold dawn rosaries in the chapel for nine consecutive Saturdays to pray for “discernment” on what to do about the Gorordo flyover project whose construction they worry will destroy part of their compound and the “solemnity” of the place.

A procession down Gorordo Avenue will be held at 4:30 a.m. The image of the Virgin of the MIraculous Medal will be brought to the Colegio dela Inmacualda.

The prayers and procession are open to the public.

Mayor Rama and some private sector groups in the Stop Cebu Flyovers Movement are opposing the rise of two flyovers in Gorordo Avenue and M.J. Cuenco Avenue, which they said is an “excessive” expense that won’t address traffic congestion.

Augustinito Hermoso, DPWH legal officer in Central Visayas, on Tuesday said work on the P300-million Gorordo Avenue flyover will begin in November. Correspondent Edison delos Angeles

City Hall budget deadline

THE Cebu City Council reminded Mayor Michael Rama to submit his proposed 2012 budget on or before the Oct. 16 deadline.

Councilor Margot Osmeña, chairperson of the council’s budget committee, said the Local Government Code requires the submission of the budget not later than Oct. 16 while the council has until Dec. 31 to review and approve the budget.

Mayor Rama said he cannot promise submission of his executive budget by Oct. 16.

He said department heads were asked to present their proposed budgets for next year.

“We want to submit as early as possible, but if we submit the budget after the deadline, we can still have it approved before 2012,” said Rama.

The mayor said he is confident that the city will have a new budget and won’t have to rely on a reenacted P4.5-billion budget from this year.

Rama said he wanted to pursue a P10-billion budget next year to implement major infrastructure projects next year. Chief of Reporters Doris C. Bongcac

Condolence to Liloan vice mayor

THE Provincial Board (PB) passed a resolution expressing condolence to the family of the late Liloan Vice Mayor Merelito “Boy” Surita last Monday.

Surita, who succumbed to colon cancer at the age of 57, was a “big loss” to Liloan town and the Barug Alang sa Kauswagan ug Demokrasya (Bakud) party, said Cebu Vice Gov. Agnes Magpale. Surita served as barangay captain of Catarman for several years and was president of the Association of Barangay Councils of Liloan.

He was vice mayor from 2004 to 2007 during the incumbency of Mayor Maria Sevilla, grandaunt of Mayor Vincent Franco “Duke” Frasco. Correspondent Carmel Loise Matus