Mayor's assistant heads Coastline Mgt Board

CEBU, Philippines - Mayor Michael Rama has appointed his executive assistant as new executive director of the Coastline Management Board.

Pedro Cuizon, who was earlier assigned at the Barangay Affairs Office under the Officer of the Mayor, took over the board’s leadership last week but he got his appointment on May 27.

So far, CMB is the first among boards and commissions under the mayor’s office that has been designated a new executive director. Rama has reviewed the compositions of the boards and commissions under him in anticipation of a revamp. He said earlier that he will only appoint as board or commission heads those who continue to believe and are confident of his leadership.

There are nearly a hundred boards, commission and councils under the mayor’s office, some are reportedly non-functional.

Cuizon is from Tipolo, Mandaue City but he has served the Cebu City government for over 30 years now. He first worked with the Cebu City Legislative Department during the mid and late ‘70s.

From 1978 to 1986, he worked with the Development Bank of the Philippines starting as messenger until he was promoted as cash supervisor.

In 2002, he worked at the House of Representatives as a Legislative Staff until former Congressman Antonio Cuenco hired him as Political Affairs Officer in 2008 until 2010. Last year, after Cuenco’s term ended, Rama hired Cuizon as executive assistant.

Cuizon has been active in civic activities, especially clean ups, Brigada Eskwela, and other environmental initiatives.

Just this year, he received an award from the Department of Education for his active involvement in the department’s Brigada Eskwela program wherein schools, in partnership with private sectors and other sectors in the community, clean and repair classrooms before the start of classes.

Cuizon said Rama has instructed him to do his job well and strive harder to improve and maintain the cleanliness of the coastline of Cebu City.

He said that he is now studying the mandate of the CMB based on the ordinance that created it. He has initially identified the coastline of barangay Pasil as a focus area as far as cleanliness efforts are concerned. — (FREEMAN)