3 Cebu City Council candidates bare platforms

CEBU, Philippines — Three bets are planning to lobby measures that would improve Cebu City’s drainage system, healthcare, and education if elected as councilors in the May 13 polls.

During the #KnowYourCandidate episode of The FREEMAN, the candidates for the north district—reelectionist Councilors Sisinio Andales and Jerry Guardo, and Marlo Maamo— laid down their platforms for the midterm elections.

#KnowYourCandidate is an interview series for the CEBU VOTE, the election coverage of The FREEMAN and Banat News.

Guardo said he has secured a copy of the drainage master plan that will address the flooding problem of the city.

He said the drainage master plan showed that the city needs P44 billion to address the flooding woes, adding that he has yet to peruse the document that he got.

While the master plan is not yet implementable, Guardo said the city has eight teams dubbed as “Minus Baha Taskforce,” which is tasked to clean the canals, drainage and other waterways. 

 “I know I can serve the Cebuanos with regard sa mga committees gibuhat nako like the programs and projects nato nga road concreting, asphalt, spaghetti wires eradication, and minus baha program,” he said, adding that he can do more things should he be reelected.

Maamo, for his part, said his top legislation is to improve the city’s healthcare system, education, and tourism.

Maamo, a doctor by profession, said public service is not new to him as he was elected as the mayor of Liloan, southern Leyte in 2004 to 2007 and became the medical doctor of the city’s Long Life Medical Assistance Program, wherein the city gives medicines every day to patients suffering from hypertension, diabetes, and arthritis, among others.

During his stint as medical doctor of the LLMAP, he said he discovered that the city government lacks doctors, medicines, communal toilets, and safe water supply in the mountain barangays.

Maamo promised to push for legislations that will resolve the issues. 

He said an ordinance granting a five-year scholarship program to deserving would-be doctors would be a good start with an agreement that the scholars will work for the city within five years after the board exams.

"I'm the only doctor nikandidato. I am very happy in the city. As a doctor, I am very much in public health,” he said.

Andales, who was the guest of The FREEMAN last Monday, said he would also continue giving free legal services to the residents of the city should he be elected anew.

Even with the disqualification case that he is facing, Andales said he is still considered as a bonafide candidate as attested by the Commission on Elections.

Andales said he will avail of all legal remedies to stay in the game.

To recall, the Comelec Second Division granted the petition of Allen Canoy, a registered voter of Barangay Apas, Cebu City, who asked for the cancellation of certificates of candidacy of Andales and Councilor Alvin Arcilla for councilors.

“I deserve another term. It’s no truth that I’m disqualified. That’s all bakak because unless and until there’s a final decision from Comelec nga we are disqualified, then among name ma-delete sa balota,” Andales said.

Andales, Guardo, and Maamo said they will also support legislations authored by the opposing parties as long as they will benefit the people of Cebu City. — KBQ (FREEMAN)