Mayor disregarding council in talks–Dizon

Considering the 93-1 lot dispute “solved”, Cebu City mayor Michael Rama said the Cebu City government is ready to discuss other concerns including the proposed Cuidad development with the Capitol.

But the Cebu City Council reminded the mayor that they should be consulted and updated on whatever discussions he had with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.

“At this point in time I can say that (the 93-1 lots problem is solved) because the residents worried before was eviction (and the governor has given her word that eviction will not happen),” Rama said.

But Councilor Alvin Dizon cited a Jan. 7 meeting held at the Marco Polo Hotel in which Rama assured Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young and the council that he would make consultations and brief them on the progress of the 93-1 negotiations.

“How many times did Rama and Garcia meet since then and we haven’t received updates,” Dizon said.

The councilor said he could also clearly recall Rama saying that he wouldn’t discuss Cuidad concerns with Capitol officials unless the 93-1 issues are resolved.

“I would like to remind Mayor Mike of his promise,” Dizon said.

In last week’s press conference, Rama admitted that he has yet to brief the council of the progress on his and city administrator Jose Marie Poblete’s discussions with their provincial counterpart.

“It is also my moral responsibility to call for a meeting with councilors and the vice mayor and tell them what has transpired. I have a moral obligation to be reporting to them,” Rama said.

Rama said this early, he could already say that the 93-1 issue is already resolved with the governor’s declaration that she would not evict provincial lot occupants.

“It is the word of honor of the governor so we have to give her trust,” he said.

He said Garcia is now coordinating with the national government Interior and Local Government (DILG) Secretary Jesse Robredo on how to resolve the issue.

Rama said the governor has also given him the assurance that the mayor’s office will be involved in the verification of lot occupants to ensure that they are really from Cebu City and qualified to avail of the province owned lots.

He said since Garcia preferred to talk to him and Poblete, there was no more use for the Technical Working Group (TWG) which he created supposedly to represent the city in 93-1 discussions.

Dizon said Mayor Rama seems to have difficulty in standing by his words.

“Since I was elected councilor a year ago, there’s no clear coordination between the mayor and my office,” he said.

Dizon said while Rama made him a member of the 93-1 TWG, he said he was never actually made part of the discussions.

The mayor have been sending city administrator to speak with capitol officials on the matter.

Dizon said he could not also forget the mayor’s promise because he took notes of their discussions during their Jan. 7 meeting.

He said Rama didn’t bother to seek his opinion on the appointment of Atty. Collin Rosell as head of the Department for the Welfare of the Urban Poor (DWUP).

He also criticized Rama’s habit of assigning tasks through media interviews without having to personally tell the persons concerned.