Labella assigns Rama as acting city mayor

CEBU, Philippines — For six days, Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama will be the acting mayor as Mayor Edgardo Labella will leave for Xiamen, China for an official trip.

Labella designated Rama as the acting mayor while Councilor Donaldo Hontiveros will be the acting vice mayor starting September 6 until September 11.

“I am confident that with Vice Mayor Rama…I am confident that everything will be handled very well. The vice mayor has been mayor. He knows the job. I need not tell him what to do,” Labella said.

He said there is a conglomeration of various cities in Asia and each one of the city will make presentation on its best practices.

Apart from this, the mayor said he will also showcase potential tourist areas and invite possible investors that would visit the city soon.

“This is an important activity in Xiamen because I’m going to be having a presentation…It’s like selling the City of Cebu especially in the area of tourism. I will apprise them of our business-friendly climate in our city. I will share what we are doing and the peace and order,” he added.

Labella will be accompanied by Councilors Raymond Alvin Garcia, Renato Osmeña, Jr., and Prisca Niña Mabatid; Public Information Officer Razel Cuizon, City Attorney Rey Gealon, former councilor Jocelyn Pesquera, and Protocol office Head Angel Espiritu and Gessa Marie Gunjuran.

They will leave today.

“I will deliver my presentation on Sunday. If there is nothing to do very important, I will just leave ahead. The official travel would be up to the 11th. If I find it no longer necessary to stay longer, after my presentation, maybe I will just come back right away unless I have compelling reason, I will be constrained of the officials of China to stay longer, I might,” the mayor said.

Yesterday morning, Labella also met all department heads of City Hall to give some instructions while he is out of town.

The mayor said he instructed the Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management Office and Quick Response Team to be alert always.

“There should be 24 hour duty in the disaster response. I instructed the disaster to be on guard always,” he said.

Labella said the Department of Social Welfare and Services, City Health Department, and Cebu City Medical Center to also be efficient in delivering health services. — GAN (FREEMAN)