Council secretary Poblete named city administrator

CEBU, Philippines - Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama has chosen City Council secretary Jose Mari Poblete to take over as city administrator.

He will officially appoint Poblete on Monday through a Memorandum Circular.

“I have chosen Atty. Joe Poblete because he is a licensed civil engineer.He is already familiar diha sa city hall and I trust him,” Rama said.

Rama has not chosen anybody for the position of Public Information Officer.

To replace Poblete at the City Council will be assistant secretary Cynthia Kahulugan.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young, the 12th City Council’s presiding officer, said he wants Kahulugan to replace Poblete because she is already familiar with how the council works.

Kahulugan also served as acting secretary for several months when former secretary Estrella delos Reyes retired in late 2008.

Former mayor and current Cebu City south district Rep. Tomas Osmeña appointed Poblete as city secretary in March 2009.

Poblete started working at the City Hall in 2003 as project engineer of the South Road Properties Project Monitoring Office.

When he passed the Bar examination in the same year, he requested to be transferred to the city legal office which was granted.In 2004, he was already holding the position of Legal Officer 3.

Young said that Kahulugan might take over immediately this Friday when the council session resumes.

“If they can complete the turn over by Monday or Tuesday, she can already start as the secretary on Friday. To replace her as assistant secretary, pangitaon pa nato na,” Young said.

The city administrator manages, coordinates, formulates and monitors internal operating policies that facilitate achieving efficient and fair delivery of services in the city.

He also assists the mayor in conducting the city’s business in all matters and performs other duties and assumes other responsibilities as the mayor may direct.(FREEMAN NEWS)