Rama eyes nationwide mayors’ group

CEBU, Philippines —   Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is looking at forming an association for all mayors in the Philippines ahead of the convergence of the League of Cities of the Philippines today.

Rama said he already revealed his plan when he went to Abra over the weekend to personally see the situation on the ground.

“I am taking the lead all over this country to bring mayors as one…as Mayors’ Association of the Philippines,” said Rama during the flag ceremony at the City Hall yesterday.

Rama emphasized that regardless of the classification of the LGU, all of them are the same -- mayors.

“Pareha ra man tanan. Mayor gani ka, mayor gyud ka, mamunisipyo man ka, ma-component man ka, ma-highly urbanized city man ka,” said Rama.

Bringing all mayors in one association will be more productive in helping the administration of President Bongbong Marcos and Vice President Sara Duterte, according to Rama.

In the meantime, though, Rama will have to have to focus on the 145 mayors who are expected to be with him today for their convergence meeting.

Dubbed "LCP re-imagined. Moving forward. Unifying. Building Smarter Cities," today's meeting will have the preliminaries and press conference to be headed by Rama. It will end with a dinner at the Cebu Capitol.

On the second day, LCP will have a dialogue with some government agencies and a strategic planning workshop and dinner to be hosted by Lapu-Lapu City.

On agenda on the third day are knowledge-sharing activity with the future cities program, presentation of housing and city development strategies as well as the discussion and approval of LCP’s 2022-2025 strategic plan among other matters,  presentation of a waste-to-energy, SMART cities, among others, and study visits in the afternoon. — JMD (FREEMAN)