By Marc Cosep
PIO Digital Media Specialist

CEBU CITY (August 3, 2022) – Mayor Mike Rama yesterday afternoon meet via video conferencing the city’s barangays to discuss with them his direction for a “Singapore-like Cebu City”, sending the message that they are vital in achieving the vision.

Mayor Mike Rama. (PIO/File)

In a video conference with the 80 barangay captains of the city, he told them that he called the meeting so as to better align his plan for a ‘Singapore-like” city at the barangay level.

“We should not exclude the barangays on our plans because, as what my wife (Malou) said, dapat bottoms-up approach atong paagi ani, which is down from the household, to the barangay, before we further expand sa atong plano,” he told them.

With this, he asked the barangay captains for their thoughts and interpretation about the vision.

Santo Niño Barangay Captain Lourdes Ramirez told the mayor that for him, a “Singapore-like” city means there is cooperation among all government officials in the city, including all its attached offices.

“Dapat nagkahiusa ta, kay dili man nato makuha atong gipangandoy kung buwag-buwag atong mga plano. Maong mo-support gyud ta sa plano sa mayor ug naa usab ‘tay cooperation sa mga opisina ug kanatong mga opisyal,” he said.

We should not exclude the barangays on our plans because, as what my wife (Malou) said, dapat bottoms-up approach atong paagi ani, which is down from the household, to the barangay, before we further expand sa atong plano.

Mayor Mike Rama.

For Tejero Barangay Captain Boyek Galang, he said that to achieve a Singapore-like city, barangay officials must look into solving the city’s drainage problem.

Boyek Galang. (Photo: Grabbed from his FB account)

“Nindot kaayo atong plano ani… and to achieve sab we need to solve the drainage and flooding problem sa atong mga barangay,” he said

Galang said that flooding is one of the major problems his barangay faces and solving it would positively impact on the lives of people.

“Kung atong masulbad ni, mahayahay sab ang kinabuhi sa atong mga residents ug commuters and mo-relate na siya sa ‘Singapore-like’ kay ato man sab prayoridad nga mahatagan og nindot nga kinabuhi ang atong mga residente,” he said.

Punta Princesa Barangay Captain Eleno Andales echoed Galang’s sentiments, adding that the barangays should also help in addressing the city’s garbage problem as well.

Eleno Andales. (Photo: Grabbed from his FB account)

“Mosuporta gyud mi, ug nindot kaayo kung magka-Singapore-like ta, ilabi na kung atong masulbad usab ang atong garbage problem. Atoang tabangan para atong makab-ot gyud ang atong pangandoy,” said Andales.

Mayor Mike Rama thanked the barangay captains for their expressed support and welcomed all their ideas. He instructed Arch. Yumi Espina to take note of the suggestions as they would help the city in crafting projects.

 In the same meeting, Arch. Espina also shared a glimpse of the city’s plan and direction.

He said the City will take an “inclusive, people-centered, digitally-transformed, and resilient approach” in its future plans.

A cable car that goes to the hinterlands of the town is one of Mayor Mike Rama’s plans to achieve a “Singapore-like” Cebu City. (PIO/File)

“Ni-share mi ninyo aning plano namo kay gusto mi makabalo pud mo kung unsa atong direction and ganahan mi na magtinabangay gyud ta,” Espina said.

City Administrator Suzanne Ardosa and Office of the Mayor Secretary Atty. Collin Rosell also joined the meeting.

“Karon nga nakabalo mo sa atong plano, I hope magtinabangay gyud ta because makab-ot man gyud ni nato kung magkahiusa lang ta ninyo,” Mayor Rama said. #

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