As suggested by City Council: Rama won’t meet Gwen

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has refused to heed the City Council’s request for them to sit down and have a dialogue with the Cebu Provincial Government on the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT), insisting on filing complaints against anyone, including Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, who opposed the project.

“I don’t want to sit down with them. Why will I have to sit down with them? They should know where they are. That is a matter of territory,” he told reporters yesterday.

“And if I would like to call the governor to sit down with us, will she agree? Of course, I know that she will never agree,” he added.

He, instead, reiterated his determination to file the complaints against those who opposed the construction of the CBRT.

“Because I am very, very serious about filling the cases against the governor,” Rama said.

He acknowledged, though, that the CBRT station being constructed on Osmeña Boulevard right across the Capitol building needs to be redesigned so it should not block the view of the heritage structure.

Garcia, the Cebu Provincial Board (PB), and the League of Municipalities (LMP)-Cebu had called for the stoppage of the CBRT construction because of the station.

The City Council also requested the last week the City’s Office of Building Official to issue a cease and desist order for the same reason.

Yesterday, Rama said he had raised the concern long before the construction of the station.

He said he would like to study the PB and LMP-Cebu resolutions to see if there is an intrusion into the territorial jurisdiction of Cebu City.

When asked what particular cases he would be filing against the governor, Rama said it is up to his lawyers. He said he had already read the draft of the complaint.

The mayor also said that his lawyers are just awaiting his go signal to formally file the complaint, unless there is a “compelling reason” not to proceed.

He further said that despite their opposing opinions with the leaders of Cebu province, the “One Cebu Island” remains as it “emanates from the people”.

As to his endorsement to remove Engr. Norvin Imbong as CBRT project manager and replace him with Atty. Kent Jongoy, City Road Management Authority assistant head, Rama said communications were already made twice with the Department of Transportation secretary.

Rama said that although there is no timeframe yet on when his endorsement could be implemented, he wanted to emphasize that he no longer wants to deal with Imbong regarding the CBRT project. (CEBU NEWS)