Cortes wants austere inaugural

MANDAUE City Mayor Jonas Cortes wants austere ceremonies when he takes on City Hall with a fresh mandate on July 1.

Cortes canceled the P1.5 million budget for the lavish inauguration that would have invited 6,000 people to the Cebu International Convention Center on Monday evening.

“We just want our oath taking in Mandaue to be simple but solemn,” Cortes said in a text message to Cebu Daily News.

Jamaal James Calipayan, executive secretary of Cortes said that instead of having a lavish inauguration party, Cortes decided to have an intimate affair with family and friends which will be held in the session hall.

“Nakita sa atong mayor nga mas daghan pang importanting butang nga hatagan ug pagtagad,” Calipayan said.

(Our mayor saw other more important things that merit more attention.)

Mayor Cortes, Vice Mayor Glenn Bercede and the 10-member City Council will be sworn to office by Judge Teresita Galanida, executive judge of the Mandaue City Regional Trial Court around 9 a.m. On June 30.

Before they will take their oath, they will attend Mass at the National Shrine of Saint Joseph at 8 a.m.

Calipayan said that Cortes wants to start his 3rd and last term running. Among the things he would like to address is the pestering flood problem of the city.

He also wants to improve health care in the city, added the City Hall executive. /Jucell Marie P. Cuyos, Reporter