CEBU, Philippines - Opposition leaders Jonathan Guardo and Lahug barangay captain Mary Ann delos Santos yesterday lambasted Mayor Tomas Osmeña for his alleged failure to effectively manage the Cebu City Medical Center.
Speaking before the gathering of senior citizens in Barangay Lahug, Guardo said the elderly persons need good health programs, which, he said, the mayor failed give his constituents because of the poor services offered by the city-owned hospital.
“Nagkinahanglan kamo kanunay og pag-atiman sa inyong panglawas, apan kon modangop kamo sa CCMC walay mga tambal, hatagan ra kamo og resita. Nagplano pa g’yod ang mayor nga ibaligya ang ospital,” Guardo said.
The senior citizens also expressed their disapproval to the plan of Osmeña to sell the 48-year-old hospital saying, “Maayo man gani nga padak-an unta ug palamboon.”
Guardo and delos Santos have publicly expressed their interest to seek the congressional seats in the south and north districts, respectively.
Even if Lahug is already outside the jurisdiction of the city’s south district, Guardo said he still went to the barangay yesterday to campaign for the opposition candidates. He asked the senior citizens if they are still willing to vote for the opposition even if they were already given P2,000 incentive by the Cebu City Government.
The senior citizens in Lahug are scheduled to receive their cash incentives at the City Hall today.
“Ayaw mo kaikog kay kanang kwarta nga ihatag kaninyo dili na kwarta sa mayor. Buhis kana nga gibalik ra usab paghatag sa katawhan. Dili na kita magpabinuang. Importante lang kita kanila sa panahon sa eleksyon,” delos Santos told her constituents.
However, Mayor Osmeña clarified that the funds that are being used in giving cash assistance to the senior citizens came from the first sale of the South Road Properties (SRP), which delos Santos wanted returned to the national government. — Rene U. Borromeo/WAB (FREEMAN NEWS)