Tomas: BOPK will survive without council Majority

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña is confident that Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan will survive without the majority of the City Council.

Osmeña made the statement after Councilor Philip Zafra turned down the invitation to join BOPK.

“You know, I will survive. Anyway if you are going to ask do I want to exchange position with them? The answer is no,” Osmeña said.

He said they will find ways how to implement their upcoming programs and projects for the welfare of the constituents even without the support of the majority of the members of the City Council.

“Ako mohatag ko og kwarta, bisan wala ko’y kwarta mangita ko og kwarta para makatilaw ang mga tawo og kwarta,” Osmeña said.

He said being the minority bloc in the City Council will not hinder BOPK from delivering basic services to the people. At present, the City Council is composed of eight BOPK members and nine Team Rama allies, including Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella.

BOPK councilors include Margarita “Margot” Osmeña, Sisinio Andales, Eugenio Gabuya Jr., Jerry Guardo, Alvin Arcilla,  Mary Ann Delos Santos, Joy Augustus Young, and David Tumulak.

Team Rama, on the other hand, is composed of Zafra, Raymond Alvin Garcia, Jose Daluz III, Joel Garganera, Renato "Junjun" Osmeña Jr.,  Jocelyn Pesquera,  Eduardo Rama Jr., and Pastor Alcover Jr.

Osmeña promised that the people will see improvements of the city under his watch. One improvements, he said, is the creation of the Sustainable Livelihood Program through the Department of Social Welfare and Development.

Under the program, marginalized residents of the city will get help from DSWD to improve their lives. At least P700 million has been earmarked for the program. In fact, residents of Barangay Mambaling received the assistance last Monday as first beneficiaries of the program.

Osmeña, however, was thankful that Zafra promised to help his administration in implementing projects for the welfare of the people. Zafra admitted receiving invitation from BOPK but he declined.

"No, no, there's no chance nga mo-shift ta, but we would like to assure the public that I am here for the good of the City of Cebu," Zafra said. (FREEMAN)