Rama wants to cancel gym contract

IN response to what he called unfavorable “public clamor,” Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he wanted his membership with the Holiday Gym and Spa “withdrawn.”

But Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said the mayor can no longer withdraw his membership because it is part of a package that the gym management offered the city.

Young said Rama approved  the gym contract when he signed the notice of award to Holiday Gym and Spa.

The vice mayor earlier said the city will not renew its contract with the fitness center because the councilors don’t go there regularly.

The City Council passed  a resolution that authorized the release of P360,000 as payment for the one-year membership fee of the mayor, vice mayor and 18 councilors.

For a fee of P18,000 a year of P1,500 per month, city officials are entitled to use the fitness center’s facilities and join group exercise sessions.

Rama said since the resolution authorizing the release of payment of Holiday Gym and Spa have been approved by the council then payment would have to be released to the gym management.

However, Rama is hopeful that the council would also listen to the public sentiment on their gym contract.

Councilor Jose Daluz, a third-term councilor, said  if council members agree, they could still opt to cut short their gym contract to only six months, which would expire on Oct. 31, and pay only a gym fee of P18,000.

The council has a verbal agreement with the management of the fitness center for a six-month trial before they continue their contract for another six months.
Daluz said the city officials’ gym privilege was part of their health and wellness program.

“After we had our executive checkup in January or February, we thought of going to the gym.  I really believe in this program because investing on the health of city officials is a good program,” Daluz told Cebu Daily News.

He said the city government allocated P50 million for the physical fitness program of barangays and another P5 million for their sports tournaments.

“City officials are also stakeholders of the city.  If your city officials are fit, it will also redown to the benefit of the organization,” he said.

Rama said he earlier planned to put up a gym in the fourth floor of the legislative building for use of city officials and employees.

But the gym plan was canceled because of lack of space.

Daluz said it was also difficult for the city to maintain its own gym.