Osmeña still declines to join Mega Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is standing firm on his decision that the city will no longer be part of the Mega Cebu project.

This was stressed by Osmeña yesterday after meeting with Mega Cebu representatives who requested for a meeting with him after he declared over a month ago that the city will not attend any meeting of the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board.

The Mega Cebu is a project of MCDCB, a coordinating body for metro-wide planning and development on sustainable and long term projects for the whole Metro Cebu.

Last month, the mayor declared that the city government is not part of the Mega Cebu, saying it does not exist and that anything under MCDCB does not have legal personality, as compared to a corporation or a foundation.

"Just sharing some comments, ideas about Mega Cebu. I really don't want to get involved. But, I can talk to anybody," he told reporters in his press conference.

When asked if the meeting changed his mind, Osmeña said he does not have time for Mega Cebu.

"They have their own minds. They have their own direction, they have their own priorities," he said.

Osmeña said joining Mega Cebu together with other local government units means the city is under their control.

"How do I put myself in a situation wherein I only have one vote among the group? Why will Cebu City, which is the biggest portion, the strongest economic portion, have the same recognition as Minglanilla or Cordova, with all due respect to them. They can outvote me. That's why I'd rather be on my own," he added.

Osmeña admitted that they have different positions in the approach of projects for the city.

"We have completely bipolar positions on approach of projects. They don't believe in flyovers, I believe in flyovers. Sila nalang magbuot ni-ana," he said, adding that he is not against them, but he just does not want to get involved in the process.

The meeting was attended by the mayor, Councilor Margarita "Margot" Osmeña, wife  of the mayor, former councilor Nida Cabrera, and Mega Cebu representatives Dominica Chua, Evelyn Nacario-Castro, and Carol Ballesteros.

Representatives of Mega Cebu begged off requests for an interview after the meeting, but they said the mayor was "very accommodating."

The MCDCB was created in 2011 through a Memorandum of Agreement which was signed by local government executives, and heads of the national government agencies, among others.

The House Bill for the creation of a "Mega Cebu Development Authority" has already been approved in the committee level of the House of Representatives.

The composition of MCDA is relatively the same as the MCDCB, which is made up of representatives of the cities of Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Danao, Talisay, Naga, and Carcar, as well as the municipalities of Consolacion, Liloan, Compostela, Cordova, Minglanilla, and San Fernando. (FREEMAN)