Gwen: Membership to MCDC won't diminish one's "power"

CEBU - With the absence of the three big cities in Cebu from the Metro Cebu Development Council, Governor Gwendolyn Garcia yesterday said the establishment of MCDC will not in any way interfere with the three cities’ own initiatives.

“I issue my call to the cities of Lapu-Lapu, Mandaue and Cebu, where all our roads and people converge…Once again, I hope that the officials of concerned highly urbanized cities will realize that we are not out to diminish anybody’s power here,” Garcia said.

There are 14 members of MCDC, including the province of Cebu, but Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City said they have yet to study some points in the memorandum of agreement. 

Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña already begged off from the council through a letter he sent to National Economic Development Authority Regional Director Marlene Rodriguez last May 6.

Osmeña, however, assured that Cebu City will continue to work with its neighboring local government units in addressing common urban and metropolitan concerns such as pollution and traffic.

Under the MOA, the members of MCDC shall cooperate in addressing issues on traffic management and transport, solid waste disposal, flood control and sewerage system, public safety and concern, coastal resource management, and pollution and sanitation.

In yesterday’s MCDC meeting at the Capitol, Garcia, herself the head of MCDC, said local governments in Cebu should not build a fence around themselves because “we share of common road and we breathe the same air.”

The MCDC was created 1997 but suffered a temporary setback for a few years due to lack of financial support from the LGU’s. 

Only mayors Socrates Fernandez of Talisay City, Valdemar Chiong of Naga City, Ritchie Wagas of Compostela, Vincent Franco Frasco of Lilo-an, Avelino Gungob of Consolacion, Adelino Sitoy of Cordova and Lakambini Reluya of San Fernando attended yesterday’s meeting.

The mayors of Mandaue City, Lapu-Lapu City, Danao City, Carcar City, Cebu City and Minglanilla were not present but sent representatives.

The guests- Metro Manila Development Authority Chairman Bayani Fernando and Naga City Mayor Jesse Robredo, the chairman of the Metro Naga Development Council- were invited to share their experiences and best practices.

The other members of the council include the Department of Public Works and Highways, Department of Environment and Natural Resources, Department of Health, Department of Interior and Local Government, Land Transportation Office, NEDA, Philippine National Police, Regional Traffic Management, Maritime Authority, Naval Forces Central, and Coast Guard. — Garry B. Lao/JMO (THE FREEMAN)