Garcia will be more “diplomatic”

CEBU, Philippines — Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has vowed a more diplomatic stance in dealing with the controversies the city government has been embroiled with prior to the suspension of Mayor Michael Rama.

Garcia believes that things cannot be accomplished by being aggressive and combative.

“A lot of things can get accomplished diplomatically and that also includes our dealings with our employees, not all the time mag-inisog ta nila kay there are also times nga kinahanglan nato sila i-recognize,” Garcia said.

On his first day as acting mayor on Monday, Garcia set the tone by meeting all the department heads. During the meeting he told them that he wants diplomacy to rule the city government under his watch.

“Basin this time, it will work,” said Garcia.

According to Garcia, the suspended mayor tried a more “aggressive” approach but did not work well. In fact, it has earned him more enemies.

The Office of the Ombudsman has placed Rama and seven other City Hall officials under six months preventive suspension because of the complaints filed by four regular employees at the City Assessor’s Office.

The four employees accused Rama and the other respondents of oppression, among others, for not paying their salaries for 10 months since July last year.

Prior to his suspension, Rama was also embroiled in controversies with the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD), Cebu Port Authority, and even with Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia over Cebu Bus Rapid Transit.

The acting mayor said that aside from making sure a peaceful City Hall operation, he would also focus on the city preparations for the hosting of Palarong Pambansa 2024. Garcia said he wants to be on top of the preparations.

He said he also intends to address the water supply problem of the city.

“I cannot solve everything in six months but I can start something and I hope that it can continue,” said Garcia.

He vows to immediately look into the alleged unsigned application for excavation permits by the MCWD. Garcia yesterday met with the MCWD Board, led by chairman Jose Daluz III. — (FREEMAN)