Aspiring councilors want rehab centers, city college

CEBU, Philippines — The construction of a drug rehabilitation center and establishment of Cebu City College are among the priority projects of two City Council aspirants if they get elected in the May 13 elections.

During the #KnowYourCandidate episode of The Freeman yesterday, aspirants of Partido Barug- PDP-Laban, former Calape mayor Ernesto Herrera and Quiot Barangay Captain Francis Esparis, have presented their priority legislations once they secure a seat at the City Council.

Herrera, who has worked at the Senate under Senator Juan Miguel “Migz” Fernández Zubiri, said he envisioned that the city will have its own college which will be implemented together with its scholarship program.

“It’s actually one of the platforms of the group because we are a big city and we do not have a city college, unlike other cities like Mandaue City,” he said.

The construction of a drug rehabilitation center should also be one of the priorities of the city government considering there are several surrenderees who want to be rehabilitated but they cannot afford the private centers, he said.

Herrera said majority of the crimes happen because of the proliferation of illegal drugs.

Other priority legislations that Herrera wants to champion at the City Council are the increase of financial assistance for the persons with disabilities, incorporation of ill effects of drugs during day care, youth development, and women empowerment.

Esparis agreed that the Cebu City College and drug rehabilitation center should be established in the city.

Other legislations that Esparis wants to implement once elected is to ensure that all dilapidated roads will be fixed, and that all barangays should have policemen to ensure the peace and order which can also boost the morale of barangay tanods.

While he is for the augmenting of force for barangay tanods, Esparis said he is not keen on arming the tanods as he considers the initiative as “very high risk.”

“Kon magdala man gud og armas, dali rana mo init ang ulo ug makahimo na’g dili maayo maong not in favor ko ana,” he said. (If they are armed, they easily gets angry and commit something undesirable.

That’s why I’m against it.)

Both Esparis and Herrera vowed to support legislative measures that will be introduced by the other political group should they see that it would redound to the benefit of the constituents and the city.

To address traffic problems, Herrera and Esparis believe that the officials should have political will in addressing the matter.

Herrera said the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit should be implemented once roads have been widened as it would worsen the condition if dedicated lanes will be established while regular vehicles are left with single lane each for both sides.

As for garbage woes, both aspirants believe that the city government should employ waste-to-energy technology as the city’s residents and businesses generate more volume of garbage every day.

When asked for the comment on banning parties during Sinulog celebration, both Herrera and Esparis believe that total banning of parties should not be done as long as there are proper guidelines and strict peace and order plans should be implemented.

Herrera is running for the north district City Councilor while Esparis is running for south district City Councilor. — MBG (FREEMAN)