Tom: Transition team? I'll manage on my own

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña said he is ready to take over City Hall on July 1 even if outgoing Mayor Michael Rama refuses to create a local governance transition team to prepare for the change of administration.

Osmeña said he does not mind if Rama will not create the team, saying he can do the transition in two hours.

"No need. I will take over. Bahala na siya," Osmeña said, after learning that there is no transition team formed in the camp of Rama.

Osmeña said it is unnecessary to create a transition team on his part.

"It's very easy. No problem. I can do that in two hours. That's why they call me super Tommy," he said.

Rama earlier said he is not yet thinking of creating the team as he is busy with his election protest against Osmeña.

In the recently concluded national and local elections, Osmeña got 259,089 votes while Rama got 224,705. However, Rama said it is not yet over for him because he is still preparing an election protest.

Last May 6, the Department of Interior and Local Government issued a memorandum circular directing all local government units to create Local Governance Transition Teams where necessary for a smooth turn-over and transition in local government administration after the May 9 national and local elections.

Under the memorandum, local chief executives should begin undertaking an inventory of all local government real properties, movable properties, fund utilizations, action and implementation plan, as well as an audit of the results of the Local Governance Performance Management System, among others.

The transition team is supposed to be led by the outgoing mayor as chairperson, he will select vice chairperson, and the members include all Department Heads, representative of DILG and non-government organization or People's Organization Representative.

The inventory to be turned over to the incoming local government officials lists real or immovable properties such as land, buildings, infrastructure facilities and improvements and machineries; movable properties such as vehicles, office equipment, furniture, fixtures and supply stocks.

The team will also have an inventory of documents and records such as the Calendar Year 2014 Governance Assessment Report; Calendar Year 2015 Governance Assessment Report; Comprehensive Development Plan, Local Development Investment Plan, CY 2016 Annual Investment Plan, Comprehensive Land Use or Physical Framework Plan, Capability Development Agenda, Executive-Legislative Agenda, Organizational Structure, among others.

DILG also directed transition teams to organize a turnover ceremony and conduct a briefing on the Governance Assessment Report and Key Challenges to the incoming set of officials on June 30, as well as ensure the accomplishment and submission of Elective Local Official Personnel Data Sheet by the incoming officials.

All documents should be submitted not later than July 8, 2016 to the city's HRDO, DILG field office, and the Office of the Sangguniang Panlungsod.

Casual employees under the Office of the Mayor have already started removing the paintings and awards of Rama from his office. These will be taken to the Rama Compound.  (FREEMAN)