World class Cebu City, political cooperation

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama envisions a city that would play a big role in the world stage as he appeals to the opposition to be on “talking terms” with him and allow “hurt feelings to heal.”

Rama was given the floor at yesterday’s opening session of the  City Council, presided over by his ally, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, where he deliver his inaugural address.

During his first term, the mayor had several brushes with councilors allied with the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK).  The BO-PK, led by Tomas Osmena who lost to Rama in the elections, has retained the majority of the City Council with 12 members while the mayor has five allies, including Labella.

In his inaugural address, Rama said that among the things that will keep him busy would be the city’s bid to host the 2015 summit of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec), the 2016 International Eucharistic Congress and the plan to develop a world class retirement hub in the South Road Properties (SRP).

Cebu would be hosting world leaders should it get chosen as the venue of the Apec Summit and would also be facing the prospect of playing host to Pope Francis should he decide to attend  the International Eucharistic Congress in 2016.

Rama also reported that the SRP management is now talking with Japanese investors for the establishment of a retirement facility and hospital, with a world class geriatrics ward.

He also reaffirmed his support to the Mega Cebu 2050 program of the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board which envisions the cities and towns adjacent to Cebu City  to  become one of the most livable cities in the country and the world.

To achieve his plans, Rama said he will need the people and private sector driven governance.  The “wholehearted support” of members of the 13th Sangguniang Panlungsod (City Council),” he said is also essential in achieving his administration’s dreams.

Rama also outlined his other plans in the next three years which included selling idle lots owned by the city like block 27 of the North Reclamation Area, and the conversion of the Citi Center property and the Waterfront to productive use. (see box)

People who filled the session hall and others who watched the proceedings from projectors at the legislative building’s social hall and lobby applauded the mayor’s plans.

Unimpressed

Councilor Margot Osmeña, the council’s majority floor leader, said that Rama should have started his inaugural message with a report of the city’s financial condition before laying down projects and programs which he wanted done in the next three years.

“All the programs that he (Rama) enumerated are all good.  Who is going to argue about that? But do we have funds? The financial condition of the city was not discussed,” she said.

Osmeña said that  Rama merely came up  with a “wish list.” Implementing these programs and projects is another thing.

“I always say this. There is a pie. The pie does not grow bigger unless we do something about it.  Everything mentioned was good but where do we start?  Everything has cost,” she said.

Minority

As expected, members of the BO-PK were ‘elected’ to chair the City Council committees.

Osmeña took the floor to recite the committee leaderships and members.

This raised the eyebrows of Minority Floor Leader Mary Ann Delos Santos, who later on took the floor to protest the minority’s exclusion in the leadership of committees.

Labella later on explained that while the minority accepts the reality of the majority appropriating for themselves committee leadership, the manifestation of the minority, as expressed by Delos Santos should also be respected.

Professionalism

Even as he called for professionalism in City Hall, Rama said that he wanted the delivery of some government services already outsourced.

He cited as an example the improvements in the upkeep of the City Hall since the  janitorial services are outsourced. He described the move as a paradigm shift.

“Anything that can be outsourced, we will outsource. Why not? For as long as it will result to effective public service. We have to adopt a paradigm shift,” he said in his noon time press conference.

He also wanted a personnel audit on their 3,000 casuals workers and 1,345 regular employees “to weed out those who are lazy, incompetent, kawatan, hugawan ug kontra sa katawhan [theft, unsanitary and anti-people],” and come up with a professional system of hiring and promotion.  /Doris C. Bongcac, Edison Delos Angeles and Santino S. Bunachita