Osmeña lauded for Toledo’s rise

CEBU, Philippines — Former senator and Toledo City mayor John Henry Osmeña was given credit for the big projects and development of the city now.

His successor, Mayor Marjorie Perales, made the remarks during her first State of the City Address yesterday on the occasion of their 60th Charter Day held at the newly constructed sports center, wherein its construction started during Osmeña’s administration.

“The face of Toledo City and what it has become now is through the brains and efforts by our past leaders that contributed to the working progress and change of this city especially by my predecessor and mentor, Senator Mayor John Henry R. Osmeña, who reshaped the slopes of Toledo City and set a high bar and standard of what public service is all about,” Perales said.

She also recognized the father of their charter, the late congressman Manuel Zosa, who authored Republic Act No. 2688. Zosa represented the old Sixth District of Cebu.

“For many years, the City of Toledo is storming to its dream and goal to be a progressive city in the west coast of the Province of Cebu,” Perales said.

She added the remarkable developments in the city are the evidence that finally Toledo City is almost in its ultimate state, which is advantageous to everyone.

She cited the opening and concreting of wide roads from Barangay Dumlog to Barangay Pangamihan that paves for local farmers to increase their income by directing their harvests in the market and decreasing their transportation and operational costs.

The roads traversing the Barangays Magdugo, Sam-ang, Bulongan, Landahan, Awihao, Cabitoonan, and Bato and the Ilihan Bridge will address the rising problem of traffic that comes along with the growth of the city by serving as alternative routes decongesting the city center.

Perales said the current opening and concreting of road at Barangay Carmen will also provide convenience to the people there and its neighboring barangays.

“These road projects will connect and provide passage to all, making every barangays close to each other and will invite investors providing potential for future growth of our commerce and industry that will soon prosper the economic activities in the city,” she said.

Perales also highlighted the almost 100 percent complete Toledo City Sports Center to be the home of Toledanos who love sports.

Laid plans for further improvements include the construction of a sports oval, Olympic size swimming pool and a grandstand, which Perales said will be a perfect venue for regional, national and even international sports tournament making Toledo City the center for sports tourism in the west coast of the Province of Cebu.

Osmeña, in his speech, thanked God that he is still alive in time of the inauguration of the sports facility he envisioned, despite being diagnosed with stage four cancer.

“Ako nagpasalamat sa Ginoo nga nakaabot ko sa pag-inagurar karon,” Osmeña said.

He also thanked the members of the SP during his term as mayor as well as the present sanggunian saying that there are still a lot to be done.

Osmeña further said that he is also praying that he will reach until the next election so that he can help the reelection of Perales. (FREEMAN)