Rama won’t use public funds to renovate office

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama will not ask for a budget for the renovation of his office on the ground floor of the legislative building.

For now, he is holding office at the social hall, which is being transformed into a “real” office to accommodate guests and commoners.

“For sure, dili ko mangguba. Nangita pako’g kwarta ibayad ana. Ang importante, in due time, ma-ready nana (referring to the Office of the Vice Mayor),” he said.

“I don’t want City Hall to be involved (in the renovation). I just want City Hall to benefit that when I am out, definitely, it will not be removable,” he added.

Once his office is renovated, he said, a portion of the social hall will be used to host VIPs (very important persons), dignitaries and guests.

The social hall, he said, will also be used as venue for meetings during public consultations and fora.

Rama sits as chairman of the council’s committees on health, hospital services and sanitation, on tourism, arts, and culture, on sister cities relations and big brother program, and on environment and natural resources.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Cebu City Administrator will no longer accept job applicants.

Lawyer Floro Casas Jr., city administrator, said 1,700 jobseekers have applied for employment, exceeding the 1,300 available items. — KBQ (FREEMAN)