Rama won't use gym and spa benefits

CEBU, Philippines - After Cebu City officials were criticized publicly for their membership with the Cebu Holiday Gym and Spa using tax payer’s money, Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he will withdraw his membership and clarified that he has not used it even once.

Rama, however, has signed the notice of award for a one-year membership of 18 councilors, the vice mayor and himself costing P360,000 or P18,000 each even before the issue was made public.

He said he signed it out of respect for the councilors since this is what they wished.

“But I want to clarify that I have not been there ever. And I have no plan to use it,” Rama said.

When asked if he will just let his membership fee put to waste since he is part of the package, Rama said he will withdraw his membership.

Vice Mayor Joy Augustus Young said that their deal with the Cebu Holiday Gym and Spa is a package for 20 people so the mayor cannot withdraw his membership, even if he wants to.

“Whether napu or beinte, pareha ra ang presyo. Gitagaan pa gyud mi nila og three months free, mao bitaw amo nang gikuha kay barato,” Young said.

At P18,000 a year or P1,500 per month, the city officials are already entitled to a full use of the fitness center’s facilities such as the gym, boxing ring, swimming pool, jogging track, wall climbing facilities and group exercise sessions. They also get a free body fat analysis and fitness testing, free nutritional counseling, free use of the sauna, shower and the lockers.   Massage services are also discounted where they only have to pay P300 instead of P450 while a 10-percent discount is applied on other major services. The contract shall run from May 2011 to May 2012.

A lawyer and taxpayer sent the mayor an email recently criticizing the use of government funds for the city officials’ unlimited use of a gym.

Lawyer Gloria-Estenzo Ramos asked the mayor to consider the legality and morality of the action because she said, while the councilors is enjoying unlimited usage of the gym paid from taxpayers’ money, there are thousands of displaced environmental refugees needing the city’s help.

“Is it so difficult to shell out P18,000 from your own pocket? The amount of P360,000 that will be spent for your workout will go a long way in providing school supplies for the children, maintain shelters and even protective gears for the garbage collectors, among so many others,” she said.

Ramos said that what the city officials intend to do might just be considered a “thoughtless extravagance in expenses for pleasure or display during a period of acute public want.”

Young said they are not planning to renew the membership next year. — (FREEMAN)