Most city bets skip ‘Mega Cebu’ forum

CEBU, Philippines - Majority of the Cebu City candidates has skipped the candidates' forum organized by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc.

All candidates of Team Rama headed by reelectionist Mayor Michael Rama begged off from attending the forum yesterday to avoid sharing the limelight with the candidates from the opposing camp, Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan. They were rescheduled on Thursday.

 "We have another date. We have agreed to have another date because we are willing but kami lang," Rama told reporters.

Former mayor Tomas Osmeña, BOPK standard bearer, also failed to attend the forum. His running mate Councilor Nestor Archival and reelectionist Representative Raul del Mar of the north district of Cebu City, however, were present yesterday. 

Osmeña earlier expressed interest to join the forum but had to cancel at the last minute because of a sudden appointment that he had to attend.

Despite the absence of the majority of the candidates from Cebu City, the forum went on with only Archival and Del Mar answering questions from the panelists — Melanie Ng, of Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Connie Fernandez, of the Philippine Daily Inquirer Visayas and Cebu Daily News; Ester Velasquez, of Cebu Cherish School; Isabelo Montejo, of Department of Environment and Natural Resources-VII; and Rudy Alix, of Movement for Livable Cebu.

The "Decision 2016- A Local Candidates' Forum" was organized to assist voters "in making thoughtful, discerned choices" this coming elections.

Commitments

Archival has committed to push for the implementation of existing laws, to provide a better management of the city's solid waste collection system, to implement special metering for those with solar panels, to implement the ordinance requiring rainwater cisterns to catch rainfall, and to replace existing streetlights to LED bulbs to reduce power consumption.

He also committed to install closed-circuit television cameras and to install Wi-Fi routers for free access to internet.

Archival vowed to assist the new City Council to improve the city's monitoring of the air quality, to implement a Greening Cebu program which would plant edible plants in public spa-ces, and to reintroduce an ecology subject in all levels of education.

Archival said the city government should have partnership with DENR to plant native trees in upland areas to assist with the recharging of water and improvement of biodiversity.

He also promised to assist in the promotion of energy efficiency among buildings to reduce consumption, thereby reducing the city's carbon footprints.

Del Mar, for his part, has committed to push for the passage of the Metro Cebu Development Authority Bill in the new Congress. He said he will also push for the Freedom of Information Act. He promised to support the implementation of the 18-month Roadmap Study for a Sustainable Urban Development for Metro Cebu.

Lapu-Lapu bet

Lapu-Lapu City mayoralty bet Rolando Patalingjug promises an extension of the City College in Olango Island, additional roads and creation of another city hospital.

"This will be one of my priorities," Patalinjug said.

Patalinjug, who is running under the banner of PDP-Laban, also plans to tap the courses of the Technical Education and Skills Authority.

He wants to create a city hospital similar to Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center. Patalinjug said he is also in favor of making the city separate province of Mactan.

"Yes, himoon nga province ang Mactan basta apil ang Cordova. Ang Olango, himoon nga municipality," he added. (FREEMAN)