Newsbriefs

MAYOR asks broadcast media: We need help

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama assured the Cebu broadcast media that he will remain open to criticism even as he called on them to support his administration’s projects.

In a press conference, Rama said the Cebu chapter of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkaster ng Pilipinas (KBP) can both support and continue to criticize his administration.

“Ayaw mo kahadlok nga kung mo-support mo sa Cebu City government, dili na mo ka-tira sa namo. Tirahi gihapon mi. Ang pinakaimportante, united we stand divided we fall. Don’t worry about me, anad na ko ug tira (Don’t be afraid that if you support the Cebu City government, you can’t criticize us anymore. Continue criticizing us. What’s important is that united we stand, divided we fall. Don’t worry about me, I am used to criticisms),” he said.

Rama said KBP members can help by informing and explaining to the public about city government projects like imposing the three meter easement zone along the creeks and waterways and the re-blocking of fire sites.

Cebu City Vice-Mayor-elect Edgardo Labella said the KBP can help explain their side on projects that are stalled by the opposition Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) bloc in the City Council.

“We should be very objective and not obstructive. I’m looking forward to a council that is participative and deliberative. I will see to it that all of them will be encouraged to be participative of deliberations,” Labella said. Correspondent Jose Santino S. Bunachita

Lapu college president told

to explain P500 K loss

FOR failing to remit half a million pesos worth of school fees, the president of the Lapu-Lapu City College was invited to explain his side to the City Council on July 10.

Based on findings from the Commission on Audit (COA), Dr. Tomas Ramos failed to issue receipts and remit P503,800 in school fees from 2010 to 2012.

In his reply, Dr. Ramos submitted an inventory of expenditures as liquidation for the collections made worth P686,670.82.

The resolution approved by the Lapu-Lapu City Council required Ramos to explain why he should continue as president of the Lapu-Lapu City College inspite of the COA findings. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza

Rehab corals, Yellow Submarine told

LAPU-LAPU City Mayor Paz Radaza called on the management of Cebu Yellow Submarine to prioritize the rehabilitation of the corals in Kontiki drop that were damaged during one of their tours last April.

She said she’s confident that the management will rehabilitate the area if only to sustain their operations.

The Lapu-Lapu City Legal Office is still evaluating the report by environment officials on the damage caused by the company.

Radaza said the guidelines to be drawn by the Maritime Industry Authority (Marina) on the use of submersible craft for tourism will be used as basis for crafting their own ordinance.

Jun Kim, general manager of Cebu Yellow Submarine, asked the city government to give them enough time to recover their losses after their operations were suspended for more than a month.

Teams led by a field marshal will monitor the submarine tours to see if the submarine keeps away from the coral walls. Correspondent Norman V. Mendoza