CEBU, Philippines - To reduce the cost of doing business in Cebu City, reelectionist Mayor Michael Rama said the government should remove the avenue for corruption, bureaucracy and red tape.
Rama made the statement yesterday during the first Mayoralty Forum organized by Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was supposed to appear in the same forum last week with his rival candidate, former mayor Tomas Osmeña.
“Red tape, bureaucracy and less discretion --it’s the discretion that’s bringing really corruption to come in very much aware of this matter. We have institutionalized one stop shop. Bring business permit to 15 minutes. We have that. If there are delays, and I’m pretty sure it’s not us, it’s the other agencies,” Rama told businessmen yesterday.
Rama said one of his policies is to allow temporary business permit to be issued so that business owners can go through processing other requirements.
“We need money, why make it difficult?” he said, adding that he will call for a meeting with business sector through CCCI once reelected to thresh out issues with businessmen.
According to Rama, it has always been his administration’s policy to involve private sector in government planning and ensure transparency in government spending. He said CCCI should lend its best planners to the city because it is the city’s needs.
“And when you are part now of the structure of the city government, don’t be too negative. Be a stirrer, a catalyst and an example,” he said, adding that operation of the government will improve once best planners in private and business sectors will be involved.
Asked to summarize in five keywords his vision for the business community in the next three years, Rama said it’s “globally competitive, innovative, participatory, sustainable, and responsible.”
The mayor said voting straight of his candidates for the City Council would be the best solution to solve the gridlock in the politically divided legislative department.
“Put all together, we have the right menu to bring about good governance,” he said.
On micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), Rama challenged CCCI to initiate a governance project. While admitting that he was into MSMEs before, he said these MSMEs count on CCCI and the government.
Rama vowed to issue an executive order to create a council that would involve CCCI, MSMEs, among others in the planning for the city.
When asked on the specific timeline for the city’s master plan, Rama said all he needs is a City Council that would support him.
He recalled that he has proposed a budget to come up with solid waste master plan, sewerage master plan, drainage master plan, coastal master plan, downtown master plan, and midtown master plan. He, however, said the current City Council has “deleted all of it.”
CCCI president Melanie Ng said the forum was aimed at giving the business community better information about the candidates so they can vote the right one, who carries the platform that could bring Cebu City to the next level in terms of economic development.
After the forum, Ng said she was satisfied with the answers and platform of Rama and as well as on the platforms of Osmeña.
“We're glad that mayor announced so many initiatives that will involve collaboration with the chamber. So we're happy that he values the partnership and the help that the business community can extend to the city,” Ng said.
She said CCCI will continue its participation in some of the programs of the city like the beautification not only along Colon Street but also the neighboring locations.
“After this, whoever will win we will work with them because we work with the office. The chamber is a apolitical, we work with the office. Just like what Mayor Michael Rama said it’s not the personality but the office that we collaborate and work on,” she said.
“It has to be vision-driven for a better Cebu for a better business climate here in Cebu. And the chamber is very willing to work hand in hand with the city to address the concerns and to help whatever way we can,” she added.
Ng clarified that CCCI asked the same sets of questions to both Rama and Osmeña, adding that they also forwarded the questions ahead of time so that they could prepare their answers. — (FREEMAN)