Mike to continue to serve Cebuanos despite suspension – Cebu City • News & Information

Mayor to erstwhile allies: “I forgive you”

CEBU CITY (July 4, 2024) –Mayor Mike Rama assures the Cebuanos that he remains committed to serve them even as he continues to serve his suspension.

“I am the people’s mayor. I have been awarded by People Management Association of the Philippines as the people’s manager. And I will continue to be a people’s servant,” Rama said during his “Backstage” State of the City Address (BaSOCA) at the Casino Espanol this afternoon.

“I guarantee until the last drop of my blood, I will serve all of you. No distinction,” he added in his message billed as “People’s Address.”

Rama’s BaSOCA, delivered while he is under preventive suspension, came a day after Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin N. Garcia delivered his first SOCA at City Hall.

While thanking his family, friends, and allies who continued to support him in his fight, the mayor assured that he has no plans to go after those who abandoned him.

“I want to remove all rancour, bitterness, anger, vengeance. That is not my cup of tea and you know that,” he said.

“Whatever happened to me, God knows that. And I know that the strength that I have is not my own. You are my strength, all of you. If you are not with me, then I will be weakened,” he added.

Accomplishments

The mayor also highlighted his accomplishments prior to his suspension, including the funding to construct 30,000 transition shelters and medium-rise buildings for the less marginalized settlers.

Rama said his collaboration with the private sector helped to realize the project and augments the housing assistance that the national government provided through the Pambansang Pabahay Para sa Pilipino program.

He said he also helped the City pursue the planned South Coastal Urban Development (SCUD) project with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development.

The SCUD project is planned across the South Road Properties and it is set to be implemented in three phases, previously shared Arch’t. Joseph Michael “Yumi” Espina, the city planning and development officer.

The project will cover around 60 hectares of land area in Barangays Sawang Calero, Duljo-Fatima, Mambaling, Basak San Nicolas, Basak Pardo, Kinasang-an Pardo, Cogon Pardo and Inayawan.

In the field of education, Rama reported he signed an agreement with the Department of Social Welfare and Development and the Department of Education in March this year to implement the “Tara Basa” program in the city’s public schools.

The “Tara Basa” program aims to enhance the reading capabilities among young students, to provide opportunities for college students to earn through tutoring, and to help parents assist their children when it comes to learning and reading.

Rama said he helped empower the city’s 80 barangays by providing financial assistance and projects that can benefit their constituents.

In March this year, he ordered the release of P3.1 billion to the city’s barangays. The funds are sourced from the Local Development Fund.

He said he mandated City Hall departments and offices to implement the “Adopt-A-Barangay” program in order to provide aid to barangays through their services.

In public health, Rama shared he continued his thrust to implement a CoViD-free city through the “Pabakuna Ta” program aimed to convince residents to avail of CoViDd vaccines.

To encourage residents to get vaccinated, Rama recalled he held raffles at City Hall through the “Pabakuna Ta Bonanza” program.

During the raffle, many residents received houses and lots, cars, motorcycles, cash gifts, groceries, and appliances, among others.

He reported that he initiated efforts to complete the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) without the need for the city to spend a single centavo and through the help of donations from the private sector.

Rama said he hopes to complete CCMC and presents it as a “poor man’s hospital with a rich man’s services.”

He also highlighted his continued struggle to fully implement the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project.

Even as the project faces opposition, Rama assured that he will continue to fight for the right of Cebuanos to have a proper transportation system that can cater to their needs.

He also boasts of his campaign against environmental degradation through the city’s Gubat sa Baha and Likay sa Landslide campaigns.

The Task Force Gubat sa Baha, which he created through an executive order, has already made significant strides to convince Cebuanos to cooperate in its campaign to clear the easement of the city’s rivers.

Rama said he took the initiative to provide more public spaces in the city for the public to enjoy such when he led the opening of the Plaza sa Katawhan at the Aduana area near City Hall in January this year.

He vowed to push through with his plan to further develop the Plaza sa Katawhan and to open other parks in the city.

In the field of socio-cultural promotions, Rama recalled he promoted the city to the world by holding the annual Sinulog Festival at the SRP, providing locals and tourists with a bigger venue to celebrate the country’s biggest festival.

He said he introduced other activities such as the Kaplag sa San Nicolas, the revival of the yearly Buhing Kalbaryo during Holy Week, and other activities related to culture and heritage.

Palaro 2024

Rama’s biggest achievement in the previous year, he said, was his successful bid for Cebu City to serve as the venue for the Palarong Pambansa 2024.

After securing the bid, Rama said he led the preparations for the Palarong Pambansa to ensure its success.

Rama’s preparations for the Palaro were eventually tested and proven to be effective during the Central Visayas Regional Athletics Association (CVIRAA) meet in May, he noted.

Despite serving his suspension, Rama remains committed to help organizers prepare for this year’s Palaro.

Several of the mayor’s allies were in attendance during his BaSOCA, including Acting Vice Mayor Dondon Hontiveros, City Councilor Phillip Zafra, Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Rhea Jakosalem, her predecessor Jessica Resch, and suspended city administrator Collin Rosell.

Rama’s family members including his wife, Malou, and his son, lawyer Mikel, were also present. RMM / jkv