Rama orders removal of Team Rama tarps

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama yesterday ordered the removal of a Team Rama tarpaulin installed inside the compound of the Cebu City Library because it is illegal.

The city library was the venue of the signing of the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) for the granting of financial assistance to each barangay in the city.

The event was attended by all 80 barangay captains.

Rama said nobody admitted who placed the tarpaulin but he warned the barangay captains to refrain from placing political propaganda materials in their barangay halls.

But tarpaulins bearing his photo and name and the list of projects of the city government may be displayed as these are not for political purposes.

This is to inform the public that the city government is working for them.

Rama yesterday admitted that he does not favor the holding of political activities as early as now because the election is still a year away.

He said holding pulong-pulongs in four venues every night and hand-shaking in the morning may cause health problems to the candidates.

 But he explained that his team could not stop holding pulong-pulongs in different barangays because the Bando-Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) is also doing this.

“Mapugos na lang usab ta kay kon dili ta mohimo, maalkanse man ta nila,” said Rama. (We are forced to do this because they are also holding pulong-pulongs. We don’t want to be left behind.)

But Rama assured the barangay officials that even if they will not support his teams, their constituents will continue to get basic services. (FREEMAN)