CIPC no longer exists — Rama

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is calling the Cebu Investment Promotions Center/Cebu Economic and Business Foundation, Inc (CIPC/CEBF) to temporarily stop its operations until the election of the board of the trustees will be done accordingly.

Rama yesterday said that CIPC cannot continuously perform its tasks without the members of the board of trustees as the policy making body who filed a consolidated resignation three months ago.

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.

"Without the board of trustees that policy body will temporarily be seized to exist and should not be dealing with anyone because otherwise it is no longer a corporation but a sole proprietorship because Joel Mari Yu only manages it," said Rama.

Rama also said that the SEC by all extent and purposes should call CIPC's attention.

Rama is challenging Yu to prove that he was the reason for the mass resignation.

"Ngano ako man gyod ang pasanginlan? I do not know how it was being ran? Kinsa'y nigamit sa CIPC nga way pagpahibaw sa board ug kinsay nigamit sa kwarta?" Rama asked.

"Ingna siya (Yu) mag-atubangay ming duha kinsa'y nangilad namong duha, ako or siya? I wish maklaro na kay para magklarohay mi unsay iyang gusto," Rama challenged.

Rama said that when he was a city councilor, he reminded CIPC to have a continuous report for updates and transparency considering that the city government is giving a huge amount of financial assistance.

Finance by the city government of its operations, CIPC is an organization tasked to promote Cebu Province and Cebu City, including the marketing of the South Road Properties (SRP).

"Pangutan-a ang board kinsa naghatag basin they end up knowing nga usa nalang naghatag ang city government," said Rama.

Rama said that though the Cebu City Council has appropriated the budget, he did not still signed the Memorandum of Agreement because of the "internal conflict" within CIPC.

The council earlier appropriated a total of P5.4 million as financial assistance for CIPC of which only P4 million was originally proposed by the executive department.

It also approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to sign a MOA with CIPC for the release of the funds, however, Rama refused to sign the agreement.

The Freeman tried to call and send messages to Yu but got no response.— (FREEMAN)