CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is looking forward to more collaboration with the Cebu provincial government under the “One Cebu Island” approach.
Rama made the statement after attending Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia’s “A Thousand and 100 Days.”
He said he was impressed by Garcia’s report, marking her 1,100 days at the Capitol since winning the 2019 and May 2022 elections.
“The report is an expected thing. It is a collage of indisputable proof of genuine leadership. And for that, for me, the governor should be congratulated,” said Rama as reported by the city’s Public Information Office (PIO).
Garcia’s report was done through a 25-minute video presentation at the Capitol Social Hall where the governor’s family, friends and other officials gather to also wish her well on her 67th birthday.
Highlighting the presentation was her resolute leadership at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and after the onslaught of typhoon Odette last year.
Garcia said the pandemic and typhoon Odette were “the worst nightmare that any chief executive could have ever imagined”.
“But hey, we survived. And we not only survived, we prevailed,” Garcia said.
Aside from Rama, Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia also attended the event which was also a celebration of the governor’s 67th birthday.
The vice mayor congratulated the governor, his aunt, on her accomplishments in office.
“I can only aspire to be like you. You are indeed a role model to the Cebuanos. Cebu is in good hands under your leadership. Proud pag-umangkon here,” said the vice mayor.
Meanwhile, the governor also takes pride in having been able to recover some of the provincial properties. The latest of which is a portion of the military reservation in Barangay Apas, Cebu City.
Rama said the city government is willing to talk with the provincial government regarding the future plans for the property, including its residents.
“That is an additional property that is located in the city. Whatever the governor would wish us to do, that will bring the property to be productive, at the same time, perhaps will also address the housing of all those occupants…the City of Cebu, under my leadership, with the (City) Council, we will also have to be ready to be helping those people,” the mayor said. — GMR (FREEMAN)