CIPC to get P5.4M,with a catch

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has finally agreed to release P5.4 million in financial assistance to the Cebu Investment Promotions Center/ Cebu Economic and Business Foundation, Inc (CIPC/CEBF).

But only after its board of trustees (BOT) settles first what he said are “internal conflicts”.

Rama said certain people at the CIPC and internal problems, not him, caused the mass resignation of CIPC’s board of trustees three months ago.

“I cannot be the one attributed to (have caused) what happened to CIPC.  There is a big problem on trust and confidence and it cannot be a trust and confidence on me that the mass resignation occurred,” he stressed.

CIPC/CEBF chairman Geronimo Sta. Ana; vice chairman Augusto Go; treasurer Sabino Dapat; BOT members Rogelio Lim, Enrique Benedicto, and Department of Trade and Industry Regional Director Asteria Caberte filed a mass and consolidated resignation at the Securities and Exchange Commission  last June 30.

On his refusal to sign the Memorandum of Agreement with CIPC, which has long been accredited with and receiving assistance from the City Government, Rama said it was not because its BOT members were allies of former Cebu City mayor Tomas Osmeña.

“I have no intention of dissolving CIPC but I cannot deal with CIPC if there is a trust and confidence problem.  So if the members don’t have trust and confidence within the CIPC, I as mayor would not give trust and confidence as well.  Simple,” he said.

He reminded the board that he was the one who made CIPC the marketing arm of the South Road Properties (SRP) and not because of a City ordinance.

He added he still wants CIPC to promote Cebu, but not the SRP.

“I still would want CIPC to be around and I want to made it clear, wa gyuy problema kun silay (I have no problem if they) mo-promote sa Cebu,” Rama said.

He said he made a “paradigm shift” in creating the SRP Management Office headed by Roberto “Bo” Varquez allegedly in response to instruction by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. —/RHM (FREEMAN)