Compassionate, yet tough Rama

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama showed compassion and toughness in his State of the City Address (SOCA) yesterday afternoon where he also laid down his plans until his term ends on 2013.

In his first state of the city address, Rama summed up his accomplishments after a year in office and laid down 22 plans that he hopes to accomplish in the next two years.

The speech, which he said was only going to last 40 minutes, stretched to a shade over an hour.

Rama was applauded 80 times not including the time when he was called to the podium.

But before he started talking about his feats and promises, Rama began by acknowledging colleagues at City Hall and invited guests, which took him two minutes and 14 seconds.

Rama delivered his nine-page speech in Cebuano and started off by underscoring his election promises and personal achievements.

“Sa ako na nga gisaysay niadtong una kong pagpamulong atubangan kaninyo dinhi mismo sa maong hawanan ug bisan pa man gani sa panahon sa akong kampanya, miawhag ako kaninyong tanan sa pagkuyog kanako sa pagtul-id sa hiwi, paghan-ay sa gubot, paglimpiyo sa hugaw, pagwagtang sa baho ug pagpa-anindot sa bati,” Rama said.

Rama thanked the city council, which is headed by Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, for the success in approving last year’s Supplemental Budget in the amount of P1.5 billion and this year’s P4.5 billion annual budget.

Rama also thanked the private and business sector for paying their taxes, and the city’s collection has already reached 53 percent or 2.5 billion because of the sales also of the South Road Properties.

Of the 4.5 billion pesos budget, the mayor said that the bigger chunk was for the social services amounting to P815.5 million. Education got P117.8 million; environment P473.9 million; drainage P61.6 million; business facility P336.7 million; and infrastructure P335.6 million.

For education, the city government has set aside P100 million for building construction and the city’s scholarship program that already benefits 5,800 college students.

On top of the budget allocated by the council, the city has also set aside P227.9 million for the Special Education Fund through the Local School Board.

 In peace and order, Rama thanked the Cebu City Police Office for bringing the crime volume down by 31 percent. The city has bought 44 police motorcycles with complete electronic and radio gadgets.

Rama also said that with the approval of Supplemental Budget No. 5, the city has set aside P200 million for asphalting and road concreting in 71 different roads and streets including those in the mountain barangays.

“Apan ang labing dako nga gimbuhaton nga atong nahimo bahin niini mao ang pagsemento nato sa mga dalan diha sa North Reclamation Area,” Rama said.

The city also focused on rehabilitating the Guba Emergency Hospital and strengthening the adopt-a-health-center program in 80 barangays with the help of the Filipino-Chinese community.

He also drew applause when Rama cited his environmental program of “no segregation, no collection policy” and the successful closing down of the Inayawan Landfill.

In tourism, Rama said the city was recognized as Asia’s City of Culture. He also boasted the opening of the newly-rehabilitated Plaza Independencia, Rizal Public Library and Museum, and the Beautify Cebu Movement.

He also cited the efforts to clean up the Carbon Market.

Rama also directed the city social service, the city treasurer’s office and city administrator’s office to prepare the distribution and the release of the incentives for senior citizens within two weeks.

The mayor also asked the city council to approve a housing program for the city employees, police, and teachers.

“Ang atong administrasyon nagatuo nga charity begins at home. Busa, aduna usab kita’y susamang housing program alang sa mga empleyado sa City Hall nga hangtod karon wala pay gipanag-iyang puloy-anan. Sa kasamtangan usab, wala gayod nato ihikaw ang mga benipisyo sa mga city employees nga angayan madawat nila untop sa panahon nga gilatid sa balaod.”

Rama also bared 22 promises for the next two years that he will be at the helm of the city. This includes the giving a monthly incentives and allowance to barangay officials including the SK, to re-construct the Carbon market, to solve the controversial Banilad-Talamban issues, the construction of an elementary school in Barangay Ermita.

The establishment of a sports facility at the SRP, the establishment of a Materials Recovery Facility in all barangays, the establishment of Children’s Park at the Fish Market in Pasil, the putting up of public toilets in the barangays, and the establishment of Cebu City College.

Rama closed his speech by calling for the cooperation and setting aside political bickering.

“Ato una ihikling ang politika, ato una i-focus ang serbisyo. Ato nalang paaboton ang 2013, sige kana magtinirahay ta, dili una karon,” Rama said.

Yesterday’s SOCA was attended by an estimated 10,000 people according to the City Hall officials.

Done once a year, the SOCA is among the traditions in local governance wherein the chief executive presents his accomplishments of the past 12 months, and his legislative proposals and policy direction for the next 12 months or upcoming year.

This is not the first time that a city chief executive delivered his SOCA outside the City Council Session Hall.

In 2008, then mayor and now South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña delivered his State of the City Address at the Cebu City Sports Center. —/NLQ (FREEMAN)