By Marc Cosep
PIO Digital Media Specialist

CEBU CITY (November 24, 2022) — Dream big and get things done.

This was what City Councilor Francisco Esparis said when members of the Municipality of Maramag, Bukidnon’s engineering department visited the Cebu City Hall for benchmarking today.

Councilor Francisco Esparis. (PIO/File)

Esparis, who welcomed the more than 50 visitors, told them that while it is always good to have a vision, what is most important is to accomplish the target.

“While we also dream big, we must also get things done kay mao ni maka-encourage sa mga tao nato para motabang sab sa atong mga programa,” he said.

Municipal Engineer Christine Dudas, who led the Maramag delegation, said, in response, that Cebu City is fortunate to have active leaders.

“Nindot kaayo inyong mga plano kay clear-cut kaayo ang vision para sa Cebu maong blessed kaayo mo,” said Dudas.

While we also dream big, we must also get things done kay mao ni maka-encourage sa mga tao nato para motabang sab sa atong mga programa.

Councilor Francisco Esparis

She also praised Mayor Mike Rama’s “Singapore-Like” vision for the city, saying that it is ambitious but attainable.

“Ang kuan ra man gyud seguro is that the people would also participate in this plan. Because while we plan for greatness and there is not even a slight interest sa participation from the people, dili gyud ta mo-move forward,” she said.

Members of the Municipality of Maramag, Bukidnon’s engineering department watch one of the audio-visual presentations for a Singapore-like Cebu City during their benchmarking visit. (PIO/Ruel Rosello)

Dudas also said their main reason for visiting the City is to learn about its infrastructure and engineering department.

Esparis said that the City focuses its efforts on creating more Public-Private Partnership (PPP) as a medium to fund its infrastructure developments.

He mention the recently opened Cebu-Cordova Link Expressway as one of the success stories of the PPP scheme.

The P30-billion toll bridge is extolled as a perfect example of a Private-Public Partnership (PPP) project. (PIO/File)

A PPP is a funding model entered into by the government with the private sector. Under it, the private sector builds, operates, and maintains public infrastructure facilities and provides services traditionally delivered by the government.

Esparis also mentioned the agreement the City entered into with the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD) for the construction of 30,000 new housing units as part of the national government’s plan to address backlogs in housing.

𝗠𝗢𝗨. Parties in the agreement signed last November 18, 2022 that means 30,000 housing units worth ₱30.45 billion show the documents they signed, mainly by Mayor Michael L. Rama (center left) and Undersecretary Garry V. de Guzman (center right) of the Department of Human Settlements and Urban Development (DHSUD). The witnesses include, from left: Atty. Jerone G. Castillo, Mayor’s special assistant; Executive Secretary Atty. Collin N. Rosell; Atty. Lyndon D. Juntilla, DHSUD-7 director; and Atty. Janeses “Jade” Ponce, head of the city’s land management office. (𝗣𝗜𝗢/File)

Dudas hopes they could create similar projects in their municipality, as infrastructure development and business development are among the key areas they wish to focus on in the coming years.

After the visit, her group toured the city’s heritage sites. Dudas said they will also benchmark in other LGUs before heading back home this Saturday, November 26. #

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