Rama seeks comeback, vows to fast-track stalled projects

CEBU, Philippines — Despite a turbulent exit from office, Cebu City’s former mayor Michael Rama is once again vying for the top post—armed with unfinished projects, bold promises, and a renewed drive to pick up where he left off.

With just over two weeks before the May midterm elections, Rama is pushing to fast-track legacy projects like the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) and the completion of the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) within three months, should he win.

In the last episode of The Freeman’s special election segment, Know Your Candidate, Rama sat down to outline the programs he wants to revisit, the goals he plans to implement, and the vision he hopes to achieve if reelected.

Despite being ousted from a seat to which he had been elected, Rama said he is coping—challenged, but still pushing forward.

With hindsight, Rama said he chose to bury the odds he faced, adding that in the political arena, there will always be “surprises” and that one cannot be “onion-skinned.”

With just over two weeks until election day, Rama said they have already strengthened their campaign sorties to reinforce support at the barangay level. According to him, surveys show that their party is in good standing and that they are “winning.”

Rama won as city mayor in the 2022 elections, making him a reelectionist for this year’s polls despite being dismissed from government service on October 3, 2025. Given this situation, Rama said he was not surprised to see barangay-level officials shifting their support to other candidates.

“If I was not suspended, I don’t think it will happen,” said Rama.

He added that February surveys showed 70 percent of votes were assured for him, expressing confidence in the upcoming elections.

He also said he is keeping track of the barangay captains—out of the 80 in Cebu City—who have shifted their support to other candidates.

He noted, however, that this is the most challenging election he has faced, while recalling that the Rama name has been present in politics since 1916. He emphasized that he is already accustomed to party changes, treachery, and the presence of political butterflies.

Today, Rama said he has already overcome the most difficult challenges. While his dismissal from service is among the obstacles he has faced in this election, he said there is no aspect of his leadership that he would change.

“Work hard, hope for the best, expect for the worst, let God take care of the rest,” said Rama.

The former mayor has been in the political arena for a long time, beginning as a city councilor and eventually serving in the highest post in local government for multiple terms.

Looking back, Rama said he wants to be remembered for preserving human dignity as his legacy. He recalled the hard work he poured into transferring inmates from the Bagong Buhay Rehabilitation Center (BBRC) to its new site in Kalunasan. According to him, it was under his leadership that the BBRC was renamed the Cebu City Jail.

He added that the transfer was made to alleviate the living conditions of the inmates. However, Rama said the current site is still facing congestion, with the inmate population increasing from 2,500 to 8,000.

Rama disclosed that addressing issues at the Kalunasan Jail is among the plans mapped out in collaboration with One Cebu Island. He said this includes assistance from the tri-cities and the Cebu Province to develop a technologically advanced jail facility.

While building his own political name, Rama admitted he has faced challenges that impacted his governance. Among them is the disputed CBRT project, a mass transport system aimed at easing the city’s traffic congestion and a vision he once shared with a former political ally.

He also cited the completion of the CCMC as another challenge, stressing that it is currently caught in a blame game due to its delays. He added that reassessing the Carbon Corridor situation is also among his priorities. These, he said, are among the projects he aims to fast-track.

“These are something that I am too eager to be back,” said Rama.

He further discussed a framework he envisioned, which includes plans to enhance the South Road Properties (SRP), to make the downtown area vibrant, the midtown progressively active, and the upland areas a balance of agriculture and progress.

Rama said he is committed to these plans, noting that it will only be a matter of days before they can be resumed.

Once he wins...

Rama vows to finish the CCMC within two to three months and assured that the hospital will become operational immediately after.

While the current structural plan for the CCMC includes only ten floors, Rama said it was originally supposed to be eleven. He also stated that two months will be enough to complete the building with the help of the private sector.

“Yes (it is doable to finish within three months). Why? Because the council will be ours, North and South is ours,” said Rama.

“Number 2, I have done it,” he added.

According to him, while in office, he completed multiple projects in a short span of time under the People-Privately-Driven Governance program. He urged the private sector not to route their assistance through City Hall, saying it may draw “attraction,” though he did not elaborate further.

He cited Plaza Independencia, Magellan’s Park, Senior Citizen Park, and the Plaza Sugbo Grounds as examples of projects that started with only P40 million in funding and no support from the city or national government.

Rama said that partnerships with the private sector are possible as long as they are guaranteed to be free from corruption. He added that he was unable to finish the CCMC during his term because he was removed from office.

“Basig nakalimot mo, I was out of job. When another mayor came in, and I went down as Vice Mayor. The money is already there,” said Rama.

He argued that multiple plans were already in place for CCMC, including centers and facilities and zero-billing service. Moving forward, Rama said several private partners have expressed intent to help the government complete the CCMC, including major corporate owners and other private individuals.

To attract tourists, Rama envisioned a boardwalk stretching from Radisson Blu to Inayawan and on to City Hall. He said the current City Hall building would be converted into a museum, with city operations relocated to the SRP.

“Singapore-like is not a myth,” Rama said, referring to his administration’s vision, which once drew criticism and polarized public opinion.

As part of his plans to enhance the SRP, Rama said this includes a cruise ship terminal and initiatives to promote Cebu’s heritage and climate-conscious cultural design.

Currently, Rama said the most pressing concerns in Cebu City are flooding, traffic, peace and order, and social housing. However, he added that he no longer sees these as problems but as challenges already addressed in his platform as the standard-bearer of BARUG – Team Rama.

“You try before… kami na, kami na ayaw na sila, Partido BARUG – Team, BagOng Sugbo, vote straight,” Rama urged the public as he convinced the masses to vote for him once again. — (FREEMAN)