State of the city in 5 letters: ‘BARUG’ - Rama

CEBU, Philippines — Less talk and more visuals of tangible projects and programs his administration has achieved in the past one year is how Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama delivered his state of the city address Monday morning.

Speaking before foreign diplomats, provincial officials, city and barangay officials, and city hall employees who attended the event at the Plaza Sugbo, Rama summarized the state of the city in five letters of his political party—BARUG.

Using audio video presentation (AVP), Rama enumerated what BARUG stands for relative to what his administration has accomplished so far and intends to do in the remaining years of his term.

•Better business environment and employment opportunities with the ease of doing business in the city while opening up night markets for vendors and further improvement of Carbon Market.

•Adequate water supply in the offing with the Razon group already preparing to submit its feasibility study while also getting the assurance of Prime Water Infra’s Vince Dizon of their full support.

•Resettlement and housing with the city government’s recent turnover of the medium-rise building in Lorega. At least eight conglomerates have also pledged to build more housing units for the Cebuanos.

The city government also allocated half of the P50-billion annual budget this year for MRBs as resettlement for those that will be affected by the clearing of the three-meter easement.

•Urban and upland development with the transformation of the Carbon redevelopment project.

•Good governance, public safety, and resiliency including the revision of real property taxes among others based on fair actual values.

The mayor also revealed his administration’s comprehensive educational support in partnership with the private sector. He cited as an example the ongoing renovation of a building at Don Vicente Rama Memorial Elementary School which is aimed to be the country’s first public green school building.

Rama said he has also championed environmental sustainability thru Gubat sa Baha and Task Force Landslide, regular clean-up drives, among others. According to Rama, the City Hall at your doorsteps and the universal healthcare program for senior citizens and persons with disability are also back through the barangay satellite offices.

Though he did not give a detailed report on the update of the construction of Cebu City Medical Center, Rama said the city hospital will be completed through Public-Private Partnership. Pending completion of CCMC construction, Rama said the city government has improved the City’s Hospital Assistance and Medicines Program in partnership with the different hospitals in the city.

Rama said his administration was also not remiss in the preservation of culture, history and arts. He also mentioned the transfer of Sinulog grand parade to SRP as among his accomplishments.

A Cebu City tourism mobile app had also been introduced for tourists while a heritage charter had been established and sites with historical values recovered.

In infrastructure and technological advancement, Rama highlighted the Cebu-Cordova Kink Expressway. He said a parcellary survey is currently being done by Cebu Cordova Link Expressway Corporation through its president Allan Alfon for the proposed Guadalupe ramp.

The city government is also working with the Department of Public Works and Highways for more access at the SRP to ease traffic. Congressman Edu Rama will allegedly facilitate the sourcing out of funds for the construction of a south road boulevard while also pursuing a bypass road from Sudlon to Guadalupe.

Rama said a waste-to-energy is also in the offing while the city moves forward to becoming a Smart City with more barangays now having internet connectivity. More modes of public transport are also being pursued such as monorail and cable cars. More bike lanes are also being considered for active transport.

Rama appealed to the public to support him and be part of the solution to the problems.

“Trust me as your Mayor and be a part of the solution…do not be destructive,” said Rama.

He vowed more exciting projects ahead in partnership with the private sector, including for presidential adviser for the Visayas Michael Dino. Rama did not elaborate as he said he does not want to preempt everything.

But he said the city’s most prized possession—South Road Properties—will have some magical transformation soon. Major developments are also expected in the coastal areas, downtown areas will be enhanced and a bustling uptown will be expected. He also assured to balance development and environmental protection in upland areas.

Rama said all these plans are expected to generate more employment for the Cebuanos.

The mayor also asked everyone to be a “partner” in the development, especially the aspiration of becoming like Singapore, insisting that this is “everyone’s aspiration” and not just his. — (FREEMAN)