The Mayor's S.O.C.A .

Despite the unpredictable weather the past few days, when Cebu City Mayor Michael R. Rama delivered his first State of the City Address in front of an impressive crowd at the Plaza Sugbo, the weather this time was very cooperative.

The event started with a thanksgiving Mass, an entrance parade and acknowledgement of guests before the main event. In his SOCA (State of the City Address), the mayor enumerated his achievements in his first year as City Mayor, as well as in his 19 colorful years of being in public office in an hour-long “Bisaya” speech. He also shared his future plans which he hopes to accomplish during his term.   

The seven programs which he outlined as his achievements are: Infrastructure; Education and Youth Development; Peace and Order; Aid to the Barangays; Environmental Development; Tourism; Culture and Sports and Social Services. The mayor acknowledged Vice Mayor Joy Agustus Young, the City Council, the business sector, the police for their support and help.

To mention some of his achievements, under Infrastructure, he cited the P400million appropriation for cementing and asphalting of roads, the clearing of some 30 houses along Mahiga Creek, a flood mitigating action along with 38 other drainage construction and improvement projects. For Education and Youth Development: the enrollment of some 5,800 scholars under the City’s scholarship program, the P100million appropriation for additional school buildings not to mention the P227.9 million for Special Education Fund, the P20 million allocation for the purchase of computers, eight school buildings and 84 classrooms built in different barangays. For Peace and Order, he mentioned that the crime rate dropped to 31 percent during his administration, the purchase of 44 motorcycles along with gadgets for the Motor Cop Response Unit. For Aid to the Barangays, a budget of P120 million for vehicles distributed to different barangays, For Tourism, he cited the beautification of Plaza Independencia and for Culture, the improvement of the Rizal Public Library and Museum.

The event ended with a fellowship party at the Mayor’s Office. More power to our beloved city, Mayor Rama, to the industrious City Council and to all of us Cebuanos! Cheers, everyone!