Rama sets aside politics, acts on Inayawan road repair

CEBU, Philippines —  Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has set aside politics and has attended to a long overdue request for road repair in Barangay Inayawan even as he lost in the said barangay last elections.

Barangay Inayawan had been requesting the city government to repair several roads since 2019 under the administration of the late mayor Edgardo Labella but was left unattended.

Inayawan Barangay Captain Kirk Bryan Repollo on September 8, 2021 appealed to the city government to treat the barangays fairly in terms of providing basic services.

Repollo had written letters to Labella concerning the rehabilitation of White Road, Upper Inayawan, Doña Rosa, Sitio Palwa Maria, F.Jaca St. (Greenfield entrance) and Sitio Sea Lion.

With no action, Inayawan took the initiative to start concreting some areas including Sitio Sea Lion to Pansang and part of Palwa Maria.

When Mayor Michael Rama taking charge of the city following Labella’s death, Inayawan’s request was already acted upon.

Some of the roads already being asphalted are Greenfields and Doña Rosa.

However, when the city was hit by Typhoon Odette, priorities changed and left the other road works in Inayawan on the side.

Rama ran as mayor of Cebu City in the last elections and though he won, he accordingly lost in Barangay Inayawan, an area which is led by Repollo, an ally of Rama’s political arch-rival, the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan.

Fortunately though, Rama based on those close to him, is not one who keeps grudges and let the road repairs in Inayawan continue now.

“Nagpadayon ang pag-aspalto sa Cebu City government sa Upper Inayawan. Pag niaging semana, gisumpayan usab ang pag-aspalto sa Doña Rosa,” announced Repollo via Facebook earlier.

Repollo thanks Rama, Vice Mayor Dondon Hontiveros and even the Vice Mayor-elect Raymund Garcia for fulfilling their promised when they met last May 13.

“Kahinumduman, niadtong Mayo 13, 2022 silang tulo ang mga dinapit nga mga personalidad sa DILG sa ilang paghatag og pasidungog sa mga outstanding lupon. Nakahigayon akog estorya kanila kung diin misulte si Mayor Rama nga bisag wala siya makadaog sa Inayawan, mohatag gihapon siyag serbisyo diri. Busa ako dayong direkta nga gisulte kaniya nga ang akong gibalik-balik sa paghangyo ra gayud sa pagkakaron mao ang pag-ayo sa kadalanan sa Greenfield, Doña Rosa, White Road, Palwa Maria ug Upper Inayawan ug miingon sila nga ila kining buhaton,” Repollo said.

With this development, Repollo is asking fellow Inayawanons to continue to be patient and hopefully all repair works in their area will finally be done.

“Huwat-huwat lang gayud kita Inayawnons nga maayo ra gayud kining tanan natong mga guba nga kadalanan,” said Repollo.

In return of this kind gesture though, Repollo offered food to those working in the asphalting.

Aside from asphalting, the city government is also looking forward to finally rehabilitating the landfill in Inayawan soon.

The flooding problem in Inayawan and its nearby areas is also expected to be addressed soon after the Department of Public Works and Highway relayed to Repollo that budget for the flood control project at the Bulacao River amounting to P100 million have already been approved. — GMR (FREEMAN)