Rama wants to share credit with Osmeña

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants his political nemesis, ex-mayor Tomas Osmeña, to be in the groundbreaking of the long overdue Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project set for this month.

Rama personally asked Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Jaime Bautista to invite the former mayor during the ceremony that would signal the official start of the project.

“I had direct communication with DOTR Secretary Bautista during by respite…I was telling him please include in the invitation former mayor Tomas Osmeña to invite him,” Rama told the media.

He explained that Osmeña’s presence is important because it was during the latter’s term as mayor that BRT was born

“That's why I said, he has to be involved… where credit is due,” Rama said while emphasizing Osmeña as his mentor, but a political opponent.

“His passion was highlighting that we need a bus, a mass transport system and he was injecting BRT,” he added.

The BRT project drew inspiration from Brazil, Columbia, and other countries.

The project was almost shelved during the administration of former President Noynoy Aquino because the latter was more inclined to light rail transit (LRT) and mono rail transit (MRT).

However, the World Bank, which financed the project, saw the BRT more fitting for Cebu City based on the feasibility study.

“Common namo ning duha (the BRT project), he started it, I fought for it …If claiming grandeur, it should not only be me,” Rama said.

Although the BRT project is yet to formally break ground, civil works have already started with the clearing of the center island on Osmeña Boulevard where BRT stations will be constructed.

Rama’s gesture fuels suspicions that he had already mend fences with his former ally. Rama started his political career with Osmeña’s political group--Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK)—until they were pitted against each other in 2013. Rama left BOPK in 2012 to form his own BARUG Party and defeated Osmeña in 2013. —  FPL (FREEMAN)