Childish gridlock

I am hoping that the gridlock between its executive and the legislative departments will not affect the budget of Cebu City and that eventually both parties can come to a settlement.

I think the fact that Mayor Mike Rama has left the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan party and is not in the best of relationships with BO-PK head Tommy Osmeña and that the City Council is packed with Tommy Osmeña’s loyalists is making the relationship between the two departments very hostile, this time especially with councilors taking potshots at the mayor’s proposed budget.

I  think the unsavory remarks of Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young on the proposed budget has in a way worsened relations.  Basically the quarrel is all about politics. And who will suffer in their political quarrel? Definitely not them but the people of the city of Cebu. If  the 2012 budget of the mayor is not passed, the drainage master plan and other social services won’t be implemented.

It is hoped that by  year end both the executive and the legislative departments of the city will spare the most important part of the program of the mayor, which is the annual budget. Please find some other venue for your political quarrel like the 2013 elections and stop behaving like spoiled brats fighting over a toy.

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I am happy that the Public Works and Highways Secretary Rogelio Singson listened to the people and suspended the Cebu City flyover projects. It is a victory of People Power that President Aquino and his administration has given  importance to this over the practice of some congressmen to impose their will over local government units as if these were their small kingdoms and ignoring the sentiments of the people.

I think this experience will  send the right signals to all national government agencies especially our lawmakers that they have to work and coordinate with  local government units in the planning and implementation of a project. That is the essence of  local autonomy.

It is indeed absurd that the will of a congressman is made paramount rather than the sentiments of the public and  stakeholders when it comes to a project  to be implemented within the jurisdiction of a city.

I challenge those who opposed the flyover to immediately convene to push for the drafting of a master plan for at least the city. We welcome the decision of the DPWH to start widening Cebu city roads as part of the solution to decongest traffic in some areas.

I am also hoping that many of those affected by the road widening will not make it difficult for the government  to expropriate their properties. Let us all cooperate for this is for the best interest of the people and city of Cebu.

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Rep. Manny Pacquiao will be going after Juan Manuel Marquez for the third time to settle once and for all who really won their previous fights. In the first fight Marquez was down three times but the fight was declared a draw because one judge did not register the knockdown that Pacquiao caused on Marquez.

In the second fight Pacquiao won because he knocked down Marquez but many said Marquez rallied,  putting the outcome of the fight in question. My cousin George Rama, who is a good friend of Manny Pacquiao, said Manny is indeed taking the fight personally because he felt insulted by Marquez who followed him to the Philippines wearing a shirt with the statement “I was robbed” printed on it.

George told me that Manny vowed not to be friendly and kind to Marquez unlike the other boxers whom  he fought.  He  vowed to knock out Marquez this time.