Rama prefers to hold office at the ground floor

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City mayor-elect Michael Rama does not like to use the office occupied by Mayor Tomas Osmeña at the 8th floor of the City Hall annex building because he prefers to hold office at the ground floor where it is accessible to everyone especially the elderly.

Rama had already asked outgoing city administrator Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez to help him find a space at the ground floor. When Osmeña assumed office in 2001, he also did not occupy the room left by his predecessor.

Osmeña instead ordered the construction of the present mayor’s office located at the eight floor of the City Hall annex building. Rama instead occupied the room left by former Mayor Alvin Garcia.

Now that he already calls the shots at the City Hall, Rama wanted to bring down the office of the mayor to a place where everybody could easily get access, especially the elderly.

Rama’s present office at the ground floor of the City Hall legislative building will be assumed by vice mayor-elect Joy Augustus Young effective July 1.

Although he does not like to use up the space that will be vacated by Osmeña, Rama has no plans of allowing other City Hall departments to occupy it because he intended to use the place as reception area to entertain prominent visitors of Cebu City.

The ground floor of the newly renovated City Hall legislative building is presently occupied by the vice mayor’s office, public information office, legal office, City Council’s records section, Office of the Building Officials, post office, canteen, and a small room where the City Hall employees can leave their children while they are at work.

The ground floor of the adjacent City Hall annex building is also occupied by the cashiers and other personnel of the city treasurer’s office.

In his speech before the City Hall employees yesterday morning after the weekly flag-raising ceremony, Rama announced that he is sad but he will not prevent city administrator Francisco “Bimbo” Fernandez from leaving City Hall because he believe that another big position in the government awaits him.

Fernandez refused to confirm that he will be assuming a sensitive position in Malacañang, he only jested to reporters that, “Manguma na lang lagi ko ug dili ba mag-media.”

Rama also tackled the fate of the City Hall casual employees, telling them not to be afraid that they may lose their job once he will assume as mayor on June 30, saying “Kadtong mga kugihan sa ilang trabaho dili angay’ng mahadlok, ang mahadlok kadto ra nga mga tapolan.”

The appointment of casual employees will expire on June 30 because they are co-terminus to their appointing authority whose term of office will also end on that day.   (FREEMAN NEWS)