City Council OKs Mercado’s appointment as administrator

CEBU, Philippines - The Cebu City Council yesterday confirmed the appointment of Dr. Lucelle Mercado as city administrator.

Mercado was designated by Mayor Michael Rama as OIC city administrator last February 3, a month after he implemented a major revamp of City Hall’s department heads.

She replaced lawyer Jose Marie Poblete who was reassigned to head the Department of Engineering and Public Works (DEPW) last January 2. Mercado appeared before the members of the City Council in yesterday’s regular session for her confirmation.

Apart from being the city administrator, Mercado also chairs at least seven commissions in the city government, including Cebu City Anti-Indecency Board (CAIB), Garbo Asenso Sumbanan Alyansa (GASA), Local Health Board, Task Force Cancer of Cebu, Liquor Licensing Commission, the Accelerated Social Amelioration Program, and Cebu City Nutrition Council.

Mercado told the council that she is willing to learn and to take any challenge for the betterment of the constituents of Cebu.  

“I am willing to give the best of my service to the Cebuano constituents. It may sound vague but it’s my intention,” she said.

“Being a doctor I was trained to research, study and read. And I am eyeing at the direction of accomplishment,” Mercado added.

She shared before the members of the City Council her task, which is to evaluate and assess the mayor’s projects and programs since 2010 to be able to know what to prioritize, improve, and strengthen.

Councilor Margarita Osmeña asked Mercado how she can manage all the commissions and bodies under the executive department given her day-to-day responsibility as city administrator, but the latter was firm that she could do the job.

“You have many responsibilities now as city administrator. From day to day, everything in the city will be your concern. Kaya mo pa?” Osmeña asked.

“I hope so. I’ll tell you if di ko na kaya,” Mercado replied.

Osmeña also pointed out that a city administrator must have at least five years experience in administration and management. But, Mercado said she has more than five years of experience as manager in her own business.

“I had a business for a long time. I know to manage, considered those heavy loads. I am not ignorant in terms of management,” she stressed.

Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, council’s presiding officer, said the mayor who has the “trust and confidence” in Mercado can assign her as OIC city administrator as long as she has “no derogatory or criminal record, perpetual disqualification, among others.”

“Let us bridge the gap for everything will be addressed. We are families or we have different fathers but we (are) one family,” Councilor Gerardo Carillo ended the discussion. — (FREEMAN)