Ex-mayor joins PDP-Laban, eyes seat in Congress

CEBU, Philippines - Former Liloan, Southern Leyte mayor Marlo Maamo yesterday took his oath as the newest recruit of the Partido Demokratiko Pili-pino-Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban).

PDP-Laban president and Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III administered Maamo’s oath during a simple ceremony held at the Golden Courie Restaurant in Lahug.

Maamo is set to challenge the del Mars in the Cebu City north congressional district next elections.

The oath taking was witnessed by the urban poor leaders in the north district who believe the advocacy of Maamo. They were wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the words “Hospital Dili Flyover (hospital not flyover)” and “Hospital Atong Tukuron (let’s build hospital).”

Maamo is advocating for the improvement in the delivery of health services in the district.

Rep. Rachel “Cutie” del Mar and her father, former Rep. Raul del Mar, are strongly pushing for the construction of more flyovers in the district to ease traffic congestion.

In his speech, Maamo pointed out that to construct a flyover will cost P600 million while to have three more hospitals will only cost P200 million.

He is eyeing to establish government hospitals in Talamban, Lahug and Pier area.

Maamo said that the health card program of the del Mars are just being used for politics and not the solution to health needs of the people.

“Unsaon nimo paggamit sa health card kung way hospital (how will you use the health card if there is no hospital),” he said.

Maamo said that the health sector is seemed to be neglected in Cebu City citing the overcrowded Cebu City Medical Center.

Maamo, 41, was born in Cebu City and finished his degree of medicine at the Cebu Doctors’ University. He served one term as mayor in the hometown of his parents.

Pimentel supported the advocacy of Maamo. He announced to put up more funds at the Vicente Sotto Memorial Medical Center and soon in the provincial and district hospitals in Cebu Province. — (FREEMAN)