Radaza outlines plans for possible reelection

CEBU, Philippines - Re-electionist Mayor Paz Radaza of Lapu-Lapu City highlighted her inclusive brand of leadership as the reason why there is investor and voter confidence in the city, saying this will also be the reason why she is confident to win again.

"If you are able to lead and let them follow you, kana siguro maoy klaro nga leadership… it's a consultation thing… we let them get involved in our decision… dili ra ingon nga ako maoy naghimo ani, ako'y nag-decide but it's all of us who make the decision. They are part of me, sa akong gipang-trabaho… they are part of me," she said.

Radaza faced editors and reporters of The Freeman and Banat News yesterday for Know Your Candidate: Cebu Vote Roundtable Discussion streamed live on Facebook.

She said, both residents of the city and visitors have responded positively to the way Lapu-Lapu has branded itself: a historic resort city.

Radaza's opponents for the post have criticized the city's rebranding efforts, saying it is but a waste of resources, even paint.

While saying she chooses not to entertain criticisms, Radaza said this is not so. She said the city's new brand has given it a distinct identity and response has reportedly been positive, even with the foreigners. 

"They like to invest, as you can see… they like to stay not only for one day, two days, but I think, a minimum of three days… the hotels are fully booked so I don't think nga wala mi maka-attract og foreigners," she said.

She said the branding effort is itself a marketing effort that will make the city more attractive to investors.

"It took us more than a year to decide what will be our branding because it has to jive with the characteristics of the city," she said.

"We want, not only within the Philippines, but also internationally, nga maka-attract… They can remember where and what is Lapu-Lapu," Radaza said.

"People really want to go to Lapu-Lapu because they love and they like to be part of Lapu-Lapu," she added.

She also believes there is nothing wrong with families holding positions in government, as long as they function.

"It's a go kung duna gyud kay trabaho, kung duna gyud kay nahimo and you are able to prove that your tandem with your families are there to serve the people. Why not?" she said.

Traffic

As a gateway to other local government units because the airport located there, Lapu-Lapu City has not spared from heavy traffic and Radaza admits there is no immediate solution to the problem.

What is important, she said, is that the city coordinates constantly with its neighboring LGUs, especially Mandaue City, where the other end of the two bridges from Mactan Island lands. Mandaue itself has been suffering from major gridlocks, especially during peak hours.

Radaza said it is important for commuters to follow traffic rules and follow instructions of traffic enforcers.

'The priority is given to us (Lapu-Lapu City) by Mandaue because they know for a fact that once dili maka-move (ang vehicles), everything will be paralyzed in Lapu-Lapu," Radaza said.

Lapu-Lapu City has a traffic monitoring team called City Traffic Management Systems composed of more than 100 members.

Safety

Security is one aspect that needs to be strengthened to maintain investor confidence and Radaza admits the city can use more policemen. If she were to decide, she would want to have at least 600 more.

"We have two kinds of police — we have the organic and the tourist police. The tourist police cater mainly to the tourism side of the LGU whereas the organic police, they do the other functions, which are not being done by the tourist police," Radaza said.

Because of the shortage of policemen, she also called on the residents of the city to help the police in solving the persistent problem of drugs.

"The police cannot do this alone… it has to be in coordination with the help of the barangays and the constituents," Radaza said.

For now, the city has put projects in place to divert the attention of the young away from drugs. She cited the skate park and the training centers beside the Hoops Dome where the youth can learn different kinds of sports, like basketball, taekwondo, and gymnastics, among others.

Young people can also participate in the summer and fiesta leagues and the inter-barangay leagues.

Children in conflict with the law, however, are housed at a facility the city maintains while those that need special attention can be accommodated at the Stimulation Therapeutic Activity Center.

Disaster preparedness

Meanwhile, Radaza said the city has identified areas that are prone to flooding and has allocated budgets for drainage programs.

Barangays have also been clustered so that response of the fire department in an event of a fire would be faster. The city also has coordinated with the Department of Education on the use of public schools as evacuation sites in times of calamities.

At this point, seminars are reportedly underway at the barangay level to educate residents on how best to respond to emergencies. (FREEMAN)