Laconza: 2 more hospitals for Cebu City

CEBU, Philippines - If elected mayor, transport leader Rodulfo “Rudy” Laconza plans to build two more hospitals to better address the health services problems in Cebu City.

Laconza said the present administration failed to address the problem citing the Cebu City Medical Center’s inability to provide the needed health care because of lack of supplies of drugs and medicine.

 “Sila ila giplanohan nga ibaligya ang CCMC pero ako magbutang pa ko og laing ospital sa north ug lain pa g’yod sa south district, dayon hitsasan g’yod og mga tambal aron matubag g’yod ang panginahanglan sa mga kabus,” Laconza said.

The 61-year-old jeepney driver and a college undergraduate, who is running for mayor for the third time, is confident that he will be able to raise the needed funds for his priority projects by asking help from the congressmen and senators.

As a PUJ driver, Laconza vowed for a strict implementation of the traffic rules in the city and minimize, if not, get rid of corrupt traffic enforcers. According to him, giving the traffic enforcers high salaries and security of tenure will discourage them to engage in corruption.

He said some traffic enforcers are not afraid to be terminated, if caught committing corrupt practices, because of very low compensation. Lately, several traffic enforcers have been dismissed by the city government for allegedly mulcting money from the drivers.

Laconza said he will be strict but reasonable in the implementation of the traffic laws. He suggested that PUJ stop should be property designated and marked by the City Traffic Operations and Management.

 “Pagka karon god napulos na man lang no stopping, no stopping, asa na man lang kaming mga PUJ driver mohunong aron makapik-ap og pasahero,” Laconza lamented.

He proposed the implementation of color coding and odd-even scheme to address the traffic problem in the city. Laconza said the proposed Bus Rapid Transit system, which the current administration is planning to adopt to solve the traffic problem, should be submitted to proper public consultation.

Laconza took the hot seat of The FREEMAN Know Your Candidate roundtable discussion last Wednesday. Like the other invited candidates, he was asked about his platform of government and several character questions to help the voters know their candidates better.

During the discussion Laconza admitted he is not popular compared to the other candidates but promised to serve the people and provide them of their needs.

Laconza, who personally drives his own passenger jeepney plying Lahug-Carbon route, is hoping that someday he will become mayor.

After having lost twice already, Laconza said this might be his last try.— Rene U. Borromeo/FPL   (FREEMAN NEWS)