CEBU, Philippines — Retired Philippine National Police chief Debold Sinas is set to help make Mayor Michael Rama’s dream of making Cebu City like Singapore a reality – at least in the area of peace and order.
Sinas, the former director of the Police Regional Office (PRO)-7, will serve as adviser of the city’s Peace and Order Council, Rama announced during the flag ceremony on Monday, July 4, 2022.
“We have the best who will have our peace and order being overseen… It cannot be done by me alone. I only brought the vision and there is a mission as we will have goals,” Rama said.
“Unsa manang Singapore-like Cebu City? Kanang Singapore-like Cebu City, number one, among others, limpyo, safe, peaceful, orderly... healthy, globally competitive, fiscally sound, spiritually filled, God-fearing, culturally enriched, physically fit, psychologically sound, the people, and of course senior citizen-friendly, PWD-friendly, etc. I do not wish to have a litany but in due time, you will all be guided accordingly,” he added.
Sinas, for his part, assured to help bring Rama’s vision to life. He said he is grateful for the invitation to work with Cebu City again.
“Karon, I was invited by the mayor to join him kay mitoo man ko sa iyang vision ug kanang Singapore-like Cebu City… so, panahon na nga kinahanglan itaas na pud nato ang atoang status. Ako, I really like to serve Cebu kay bisa’g naa pa ko diri, kon kahinumdum mo, ako pa regional director until PNP chief na, pabalik-balik gyud ko diri sa Cebu because kabalo ko sa potential ug kagwapo sa lugar,”Sinas said.
Sinas said he will impart his knowledge not only to the city’s police office but also to the Bureau of Fire Protection and Bureau of Jail Management and Penology. He will also speak with the city’s barangay tanods to see how he can help in their peace and order programs.
“I'm very happy to serve Cebu City,” Sinas said.
Rama is set to come up with an executive order detailing his plans on how to make the city follow in the footsteps in Singapore.
According to the World Bank, the city-state of Singapore has a gross national income of US$54,530 per capita, as of 2017. Its GDP growth has been amongst the world’s highest, at an average of 7.7% since independence and topping 9.2% in the first 25 years.
The country also provides one of the world’s most business-friendly regulatory environment for local entrepreneurs and is ranked among the world’s most competitive economies.
Citing the World Bank Human Capital Index, the World Bank said that Singapore ranks the best country in the world in human capital development. “This means that a child born today in Singapore will be 88% as productive when she grows up, as if she enjoyed complete education and full health,” it said. – JMO (FREEMAN)