Rama won't block Council changes on boards, special bodies

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama will not make a big deal out of the plan of the City Council to amend some ordinances that created the special bodies and commissions under his office.

“Let them amend or let them dissolve all, but they must be reminded that those bodies and commissions were created for reasons,” Rama said.

The City Council earlier said they will review the ordinances that created the special bodies and commissions to make some changes in their composition.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said they will change some provisions where the ordinances mandate automatic membership of some officials who are busy and are not interested in being part of the city’s boards and commissions.

A commission on agriculture for instance, Young said, the ordinance would normally make the Regional Director of the Department of Agriculture to be a member of the commission although it is obvious that the director is busy.

Young said that people, to be made part of the group, must be interested and more knowledgeable in a specific field.

Young said that because some of the members are not interested, they do not attend or sometimes just send representatives while getting the honorarium.

The council is not only targeting the membership but will also change some ordinances which mandate the mayor to be chairman.

Young said there are many boards and commissions headed by the mayor but they believe the mayor could not handle all of it.

But the mayor is asking why the amendments are also introduced now and not during the time of his predecessor.

Out of 22 boards and commissions that have so far been revamped, Rama is now heading 16 of them. Of the 16 boards and commissions he is now heading, the mayor designated to represent him in 10 boards and commissions.

Renato Mercado, his prime mover, sits on his behalf in the Community Scouts Division and Mining Regulatory Board, Phillip Zafra in CMB and Bantay Dagat Commission, Belinda Navascues in the Resource Management and Development Center and Hillyland Management Board and Consultant Eugene Elizalde in the PCAC.

Councilor Eduardo Rama will also represent the mayor in the Solid Waste Management Board while City Administrator Jose Marie Poblete will represent the mayor in the Market Authority and the Rivers Management Council.

Rama defended the people he chose to represent him in the boards against the criticism of the council who said that his trusted people were incompetent.

“As much as I am concerned, they are degree holders. And since I chose them, it means they are my alter ego. They are my accountability,” Rama said. (FREEMAN)