Rama tells brgy, SK bets not to use CH

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has reminded those running in the Barangay and Sangguniang Kabataan Elections (BSKE) in October not to use the City Hall.

However, the mayor did not give the bold scenario but he pointed out that the City Hall should not be linked in the barangay election season because his administration serves everyone.

"Ang ako karon nga direksyon, wala ta'y pili. Trabaho ta, trabaho, serbisyo," the mayor said during the flag raising ceremony at the City Hall the other day.

He said he just wants everyone (aspirants) to be treated equally.

The filing of the certificates of candidacy is set on August 28 to September 2 while the campaign period has officially been set on October 19 to 28.

The Commission on Elections has prohibited campaigning from September 3 to October 18.

One of the mayor's tasks now is to visit all 80 barangays in the city and he called it "simhot barangay."

Rama said that through this program, he can greet the constituents of the city and find out their needs and hear the sentiments of the people.

The city government had been calling on all barangays to do their part to make the city's vision of a Singapore-like Cebu City happen.

Cebu City’s officer-in-charge of the Barangay Affairs Office, Vicente “Inteng” Esmeña, earlier shared Rama’s call for barangay officials to continue focusing on their jobs since the campaign period for the BSKE has not started yet.

“Subay sa direktiba sa atong mayor, Mayor Mike Rama, niingon gyud siya nga kung mahimo, karong panahona, dili lang sa ta usa maghisgot anang pulitika,” Esmeña said.

There are incumbent barangays officials who are planning to run again in this year’s BSKE have reportedly been going around in their barangays already. — GMR (FREEMAN)