Dry run for three days: “Oplan Disiplina”

CEBU, Philippines —  The Cebu City government will hold a dry run for its “Oplan Disiplina” campaign starting Wednesday, September 28, 2022, to fine tune the executive order that Mayor Michael Rama will issue.

The dry run will be for three days and a series of meetings will also take place ahead of the implementation of the campaign on October 1, 2022.

“If we want positive change like a Singapore-like Cebu City, it should emanate from home… It should start at home,” Mayor Michael Rama told The Freeman.

“Oplan Disiplina” will focus on the enforcement of laws and ordinance on environment, health and safety, sanitation, and traffic rules, as well as curfew for minors.

“We should have an executive order to unite everybody towards an understanding the needed unity and the needed solidarity… much so, the element of sacrifice,” Rama said during the flag raising ceremony at City Hall.

The mayor’s secretary, lawyer Collin Russel, read the draft EO, “an order of a strong sense of self control, order and discipline and directing the strict enforcement of all existing laws ordinances, rules and regulation within the jurisdiction of the city of Cebu.”

A task force will be formed to carry out the campaign.

Rama said residents should not be surprised if a member of the task force will check their houses, including their comfort rooms.

The task force will be composed of members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the Philippine National Police, Cebu City Traffic Office, PROBE’s demolition team, barangay environmental officer, city hall satellite office, force multiplier, and other authorized government agencies.

Penalties for violations, among others, are still being finalized.

Since the city government is going down to the barangay level, Rama also named Association of Barangay Councils (ABC) President Franklyn Ong to be in command.

Ong is a member of the opposition group, BOPK, but Rama said his involvement in the campaign, among others, shows that the mayor is serious in his vision to establish unity and solidarity with everyone in the city government. – JMO (FREEMAN)