Rama orders commissions, special bodies to halt meetings unless their appointments are renewed

CEBU City Mayor Michael Rama has ordered all commissions and special bodies under his office to already cease from convening unless their appointments are renewed.

Rama said his executive core group is now doing a review as to who among the commissioners should be given a renewal of their appointment, which lapsed last June 30.

Councilor Margot Osmeña, former vice chairperson of the tourism commission, said they have not been called to a meeting since Rama appointed former tourism undersecretary Phineas Alburo to head the tourism commission.

“Dili na nila problema. Ako nang problema. Wala man na putol ang serbisyo sa (tourism) commission (That is not their problem, but mine. The services of the tourism commission still continue,” said Rama.

Rama said that in the absence of the tourism commission, personnel at the city tourism office were the ones overseeing the implementation of the city’s tourism programs and projects.

The Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) likewise did not convene this week because they’re still waiting for confirmation of new appointments.

Rama said that when PCAC reconvenes, he wanted to have a representative from the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency PDEA) joining their meetings.

The ordinance creating PCAC includes the PDEA director as among the PCAC members.

Councilor James Cuenco, said in an earlier interview, that the tourism commission is no longer active.

Shortly after he assumed as the council’s tourism committee chairperson, he said he wanted to help revive the commission so that the implementation of the city’s tourism projects can be started.

“The core group met Tuesday night and they were looking into the commissioners. They already worked on the casuals. The group’s next focus will be the consultants,” he said.

Rama said he also wanted to attend the meetings of the different commissions to personally speak with its members after he is able to issue new appointments. /chief of reporters doris c. bongcac