Rama to unite City Council

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Vice Mayor-elect Michael Rama will act as the father of the legislative department as he will sit as the presiding officer of the City Council starting noontime of June 30.

In a Facebook live interview with The FREEMAN yesterday, Rama vowed to unite the members of the City Council which is dominated by Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) with 11 members, while his group only has seven members.

“This is not time anymore for vindictiveness. I can guarantee Tommy Osmeña…Mike Rama is not a destructive person. So, within the council, I will be the father. I will always add up inclusivity and participatory,” he said, adding that members of the legislative body will not serve forever.

Rama also agreed with mayor-elect Edgardo Labella who planned to call for a meeting among members of the City Council to discuss executive and legislative agenda for 2019 to 2022.

The incoming BOPK members are City Councilors Nestor Archival, Lea Japson, Joy Augustus Young, Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, Alvin Dizon, David Tumulak, Eugenio Gabuya Jr. Raul Alcoseba and the two ex-officio members in the council that include Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) Cebu City Chapter President Franklyn Ong and Sangguniang Kabataan Federation President Jessica Resch.

Partido-Barug PDP Laban members are Councilors Donaldo Hontiveros, Antonio Cuenco, Phillip Zafra, Prisca Niña Mabatid, Renato Osmeña Jr., Raymond Alvin Garcia and Eduardo Rama Jr.

Rama said the minority bloc will not demand for chairmanships in the committees at the City Council.

“Now, I’m back at my home which is the City Council, I will do all that I can. Ayaw lang pahilabti sa mga uban nga hilabtanon kaayo. Probably we can have an agreement among us that whatever is good for the city,” he said.

He added all members should not think of politics after the elections, as he asked all of them to move forward, stressing that elected officials were voted upon by the constituents with the confidence that they will articulate the desire of the people who voted for them.

As for the executive functions for the members of the Partido Barug-PDP Laban, he said this matter will be discussed by the party’s council of elders. This council is composed of Rama, Labella, outgoing councilors Jose Daluz, Jocelyn Pesquera, and Pastor Alcover, Jr. and incoming Councilors Phillip Zafra and Eduardo Rama, Jr.

Rama said he will be asking Labella for him to re-establish the city’s Police Coordinating and Advisory Council, Coastal Management Board, and let him be part of the Sinulog Foundation Inc. matters. — GAN (FREEMAN)