Mayor wants Dave to sustain Cellona’s health programs

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Nestor Archival said he hopes Councilor David Tumulak, the new chair of the City Council’s Committee on Health, Hospitals, Services, and Sanitation, will continue the programs initiated by Councilor Michelle Abella Cellona.

Cellona, a registered psychologist and educator with doctoral degrees in clinical psychology and management, had led the committee for a year.

Archival highlighted two major initiatives that he wants sustained.

First is the World Mosquito Program (WMP), a $1.5 million partnership with Monash University of Australia that makes Cebu the first pilot site in the Philippines for the Wolbachia method, which aims to reduce mosquito borne diseases such as dengue, Zika, and chikungunya.

Second is the proposed Mental Health Council, which Cellona had strongly advocated to institutionalize city wide mental health programs, especially for the youth.

“I would love that the majority, especially the Committee on Health, will also find a way to align with the projects Dr. Michelle had started. After all, para man ni sa kaayohan sa atoang mga katawhan,” Archival said.

“Ato lang gyud ni siyang i align sila. Everybody is talking terms man. Wala sa’y nagdumot,” he added.

Cellona, in her parting words, thanked colleagues and partners for their support as she informed them of the latest development in the council reorganization.

She expressed deep appreciation for the trust and cooperation extended to her office during her one year tenure as chair of the Committee on Health.

“Daghan kaayong salamat sa inyong pagsalig, suporta, ug pakigtambayayong kanamo sa miaging usa ka tuig. Dako kaayo among kalipay nga nakatrabaho ug nakig uban kaninyong tanan sa pagpalambo sa panlawas ug kaayohan sa mga Sugboanon,” she said.

She assured the public that even without the committee chairmanship, her commitment to service remains firm.

“Bisan og wala na mi sa Committee on Health, magpabilin gihapon ang among dedikasyon sa pag alagad ug sa pagsuporta sa mga inisyatiba nga makatabang sa atong komunidad.”

The reorganization also placed Tumulak at the helm of the committees on budget and finance and disaster risk reduction.

Other committee chairmanships went to Councilor Mikel Rama for laws and housing; Councilor Edgardo Labella II for infrastructure and information and communications technology (ICT); Councilor Harold Go for urban planning and labor; Councilor Pastor Alcover Jr. for agriculture and senior citizens; Councilor Winston Pepito for transportation and family affairs; Councilor Franklyn Ong for education and barangay affairs; Councilor Phillip Zafra for scholarship and house rules; Councilor Rhea Mae Jakosalem for youth and sports; and Councilor Joel Garganera for environment and energy.

From the minority, Councilor Nyza Archival retained the chairmanship for tourism, arts, and culture and sister cities relations, while Councilor Paul Labra continued to head public order.

Cellona and councilors Sisinio Andales, Alvin Arcilla, and Jose Abellanosa were left without any committee chairmanships.

Earlier, Vice Mayor Tomas Osmeña criticized the majority’s decision, calling it “shameful” to remove Cellona from the health committee and warning that her expertise in psychology and mental health is needed more than ever in light of recent school violence.

“In an era where the Philippines has sadly experienced our first school shooting and stabbing, her expertise will be needed more than ever,” Osmeña said. — Preciosa Bacalso (FREEMAN)