Rama wants to lead LCP

CEBU, Philippines -  After getting a fresh mandate, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has his eyes set on League of Cities in the Philippines (LCP) presidency for 2013.

“I have always been interested to serve the country. Remember, I wanted to run the last time but I was stalled,” Rama yesterday told reporters reminding of his spoiled aspirations to become LCP national president.

The mayor said this was one of the main reasons why he flew to Manila while he was on vacation.

“I told Vice President Jejomar Binay when I visited his office last week to report what happened here last elections,” he explained.

Binay is the chairman of United Nationalist Alliance (UNA) to which Team Rama is affiliated with.

However, should another UNA bigwig also express intentions of running for the same post, Rama is willing to step back for the second time.

“Kung interested si Erap (Estrada), aw, dili lang nato pugson,” Rama said.

While most of city mayors in Cebu are not in alliance with Rama, he said he plans to ask for their support.

“Naa man tay mga independent city mayors and fellow UNA members. Pwede nato silang hangyoon si Paz (Radaza), “Sonny” (John Henry Osmeña),” he added.

Cebu province has nine cities with five mayors are from Liberal Party, two UNA, one Alayon, and one Lakas-CMD.

The cities in Cebu whose elected mayors are members of LP include Mandaue, Toledo, Bogo, Danao, and Talisay.

Aside from Rama,  the other UNA-affiliated mayor is from Carcar City. The mayor of Naga is from local party Alayon but supported the UNA gubernatorial candidate in the last elections. The mayor of Lapu-Lapu City is a member of Lakas-CMD.

LCP is composed of at least 120 cities in the entire country. — (FREEMAN)