Edu Rama to prioritize pending legislation

CEBU, Philippines — With only four sessions left before the new set of officers will assume on June 30, re-electionist Cebu City Councilor Eduardo Rama, Jr. vowed to reintroduce his three pending ordinances.

During the #CebuVote Conversation with Rama yesterday, he said he will prioritize the pending ordinances like the amendment to the solo parent ordinance, free internet for all colleges in the city, and the single-use plastic ordinance.

“Let’s start with those three ordinances first kay lisod kaayo to move forward nga wala pa nato mapasar ang unsay naa sa atong atubangan coz I think it’s challenging nga wala nato ang majority sa City Council,” he said.

As for the solo parent ordinance, Rama proposed to give 10 percent discount for meals purchased in business establishments for all registered solo parents in the city.

In the measure, Rama said the business establishments that will grant discount to registered solo parents may claim tax deduction as part of business expense within the taxable year, provided that they will maintain detailed and separate records of the said purchases.

He added that owners of businesses may also opt to file for an exemption which will be submitted to the Office of the Mayor with a verified affidavit detailing the reasons why it cannot comply with the discount.

For the free internet for state colleges and universities, Rama said he understands that students should have internet access while inside the premises of their schools to prevent them from going outside in the internet cafes.

While it is safer for the students, Rama said it would also assist the students in their academics for research, among others.

For the single-use plastic ban, he said the City Council is working to consolidate the other proposals of the other members of the City Council.

Rama, along with Councilor Raymond Alvin Garcia, has authored the phaseout of the single-use plastics, while Councilor Eugenio Gabuya, Jr. is pushing for the regulation of the plastic use in the city.

During the public hearing of the City Council weeks ago, Rama said there were suggestions to consolidate the two pending ordinances and make it as one.

While he is uncertain of the fate of the ordinance, Rama vowed to continue pushing for the banning of the single-use plastics in the city considering that the Philippines was cited as the third contributor of plastics in the ocean in the whole world.

Now on his 15th year in service, Rama said his performance in the public service was a testament of the trust his constituents of the south district has given to him by voting for him in the recent elections.

Rama said he takes pride of his ordinance banning the sale of sharks, stingrays and other species in the city, the formulation of a committee for the BPO industry, and his contribution in addressing the garbage problem in the previous administration.

Rama criticized the current administration’s absence of direction to address the worsening problem on garbage collection and disposal.

As the city government is allocating about P600 million for garbage this year, Rama said he is hoping that the incoming administration of Labella will reduce the budget intended for garbage, but should ensure the cleanliness of the city’s streets.

To reduce the expense for garbage, Rama said the city government, if it would engage in outsourcing, should hire the services of a firm to collect and haul the garbage by tons and not per hour as practiced this year.

Rama said he has not talked to Labella yet but if his suggestion would be asked, he will not hesitate to share these to the incoming administration. — GAN (FREEMAN)