Sonny vows highly urbanized Toledo by 2016

CEBU, Philippines - The Local Governance Transition Team of Toledo City held an exit conference and formal turnover to the incoming administration of mayor-elect John Henry “Sonny” Osmeña.

Osmeña, together with vice mayor-elect Antonio Yapha Jr., personally attended the event while outgoing Mayor Aurelio Espinosa did not show up but only the department heads who composed the team.

City Planning and Development Coordinator and Osmeña’s choice to be the next city administrator, Caroline Labrador, said that what they have turned over were inventory of pertinent documents itemized in the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) memorandum.

Some of these documents include the inventory of personnel, financial documents such as this year’s budget and supplemental budgets, Commission on Audit report, the local development investment plan and the comprehensive land use plan, among others.

Osmeña expressed that he is not satisfied with the reports of the outgoing administration but assured he has to do a lot of things to make the city better.

He said that he will make Toledo City a first class and highly urbanized city when his term ends in 2016.

Presently, Toledo City is a class C city.

Osmeña also announced that he is negotiating with various companies to invest in Toledo City to give livelihood and employment to residents.

He will develop the water sources to provide free water to residents and even sell water to Cebu City.

Osmeña also eyes the lowering of electricity rate in Toledo City by at least 66 percent and will task the city council to pass a resolution requesting the Cebu Electric Cooperative to reduce its rate.

He tasked his runningmate, Yapha, who is a doctor by profession, to evaluate the status of the Toledo City Hospital.

Yapha said that the hospital has plenty of improvements needed according to the standard set by the Department of Health.

The activity was held yesterday at the government-owned  Traveler’s Inn near the port area.

Osmeña said that he will hold office at the said building in order to be accessible to the people, especially the senior citizens.

The City Museum will also be used as a senior citizen’s building to be manned by Yapha.

Osmeña said that the museum will be transferred to another place. (FREEMAN)