Osmeña: Accomplishments will keep Cebu City stable

CEBU, Philippines - Pride on his work and defense for his accomplishments loaded the speech of Mayor Tomas Osmeña during yesterday’s awarding of City Hall employees in line with the city’s 73rd charter anniversary tomorrow.

Osmeña asked his successors and supporters to protect, continue, and even develop his “legacy.”

“I started as Mayor with only P120 million to P140 million budget to run the city. Now, I am leaving with a P4 billion budget for the next generation. I will be leaving the city financially stable,” Osmeña said.

He said his baby, the South Road Properties, is a major contributor to these earnings. 

Osmeña also defended his latest project of giving P10,000 to graduates from public high schools in the city.

“What’s wrong with investing with our children? That P10,000 to 10,000 high school graduates will only cost P100 million. And this P100 million is only one hectare in the SRP. We can sacrifice one hectare just to make sure that our children will have a better future,” Osmeña said.

He said it does not matter if four to five percent of the graduates are not residents of Cebu City, as the city is reportedly willing to have them covered by the program to enable them to acquire a college education. So far, only 14 percent of high school graduates in Cebu has the means to proceed to college.

“The goal is 100 percent. Because it is unacceptable that our children will just end up as tinderas in the market or any store,” Osmeña said.

During the awarding ceremony, the city gave out plaques of recognition to evaluators Dr. Leodinito Y. Cañete, Regal Oliva, Lourdes Jereza, Jose Marino Benedicto, Dr. Patricio Gabuya and lawyer Paterno Acabodillo.

Marivic Alolod received the Mayor’s special award while Catherine Yso, head of the Department of Social Welfare Services, was named outstanding Department Head.

Veronica Morelos was outstanding Assistant Department Head while Charles Cabataña of the Frontline Services Cluster, Niceforo Iroy of the Policies and Planning Cluster, Lorna Logico of the Support Services Cluster and Mare Vae Reyes of the Revenue Generation Cluster were named outstanding division chiefs.

The city also awarded 37 outstanding employees from the Cebu City Medical Center, Department of Public Services, City Agriculture Department, City Accounting Office, and City Traffic Operations Management, among others. — Jessica Ann R. Pareja/JMO   (FREEMAN NEWS)