Margot: I won't be Rama's headache

CEBU, Philippines - After getting the powerful budget and finance committee of the Cebu City Council, Councilor Margot Osmeña immediately assured the executive department that she is not going to be a headache.

Margot, wife of South District Rep. Tomas Osmeña, said she will continue to cooperate in the implementation of the programs and projects of the administration of Mayor Michael Rama as long as it is for the good of the city.

“We are not here to block. We may question as anybody has the right to question but it’s not blocking, and as long as we have the good answer,” Osmeña said.

Margot assured Rama that she will not use her committee to block his projects.

The City Council yesterday reorganized its 24 standing committees. The reorganization is viewed as a tactical strategy of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan as it came after Rama’s bolting out of the group.

Margot, a neophyte councilor, said she considered her new committee as a challenge. Although she did not have the experience but Margot used to be a bank manager in Los Angeles before she and her husband decided to settle in Cebu for good.

“It’s a challenge but again I am encouraged by the support of my colleagues and even with the executive department like the city treasurer’s office, the city accountant and the city budget,” Osmeña said.

Aside from the budget and finance, Margot also chairs the committee on tourism.

Councilors Lea Japson and Nida Cabrera were given one committee each. Cabrera was given the committee on parks and playground, ecology and environment while Japson chairs the family and women.

Ritchie Osmeña and Alvin Dizon get the committees on traffic management and housing, respectively.

Councilor Jose Daluz III, who formerly heads the committee on budget and finance, is now the chairman of the committee on agriculture. The two ex-officio members, SK Federation president John Philip Po and Michael Ralota of the Association of the Barangay Councils get the committee on the youth and barangay affairs, respectively.

Raul Alcoseba, who is on his third and last term, is holding the committees on Market, and games and amusement and sports.

Augustus Pe, continue to chair the committee on public order and safety, and transportation, energy and communication and other utilities.

Roberto Cabarrubias holds the committee on infrastructure and Ronald Cuenco is the chairman of the committee on hospital services.

Edgar Labella, who is a lawyer, still holds the committee on laws. Sisinio Andales is the chairman of the committee on labor and employment; Rodrigo Abellanosa, chairman of the committee on social service and Noel Wenceslao, chairman of the committee on urban planning and development.

Eduardo Rama, a nephew of the Mayor, is getting two committees. These are the public service, and cooperative and livelihood while Alvin Arcilla is the chairman of the committee on trade, commerce and entrepreneurship, and information technology.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young still holds the committees on education, science and technology. — (FREEMAN)