Mike wants to rename NRA after Serging

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama wants to name the North Reclamation Area after Serging Osmeña Jr., the father of his predecessor and critic Rep. Tomas Osmeña.

Rama said he wants to name it Serging Osmeña Business Park to give honor and credit to the person who made the NRA possible.

He said giving honor to worthy persons transcends any political affiliation. He will request one of his allies; councilors Edgardo Labella, Joey Daluz or Edu Rama to sponsor the ordinance.

The mayor said that after giving it a name, his administration will start developing the area according to what it was intended for.

“We have seen a lot of developments in the area. Earlier, we have already allocated P100 million to fix its roads. There will be more improvements to come,” Rama said.

He said that the NRA has a lot of potential to boom economically. Rama wants the NRA to become like IT Park.

The P100 million budget appropriated by the Mayor was used for the concreting of A. Soriano St., J. De Vera St., Jose L. Briones St. and Third Avenue.

He tasked CITOM to make sure that only light vehicles will pass the roads that were recently fixed.

Also, container vans will no longer be allowed to park in the area, as this, too, is damaging the road.

And to ensure that the area becomes attractive to investors, the mayor said some of the activities, not fit for a business park, will be relocated in other areas. He, however, did not specify what kinds of activities these were.

Osmeña, when asked for a comment said in a text message that he does not want to make self-serving comments.

“Frankly, when a CIPC consultant said that South Reclamation Project was not a marketable name, I said that we should not at least change SRP any more than SM (formerly known as Shoemart) being changed to Henry Sy Shopping Center. So Joel Yu coined the new name South Road Properties,” Osmeña said.

“Mike Rama does not understand marketing or branding. He should confine his talent in losing the next elections unless he wants to make another blunder this time with the SRP. If he insists then I will suggest a name change to Suya si Rama ug Pesquera. Haha!” he added.- THE FREEMAN