Body formed to oversee Mega Cebu projects

CEBU, Philippines -  Cebu City has created a special group that would ensure the proper implementation of Mega Cebu projects in the city.

Called the “Cebu City Mega Cebu Team,” the group is headed by Mayor Michael Rama with Belinda Navascues as program coordinator. The members include Engineer Kenneth Carmelita Enriquez (planning), Engineer Jose Marie Poblete (infrastructure), lawyer Dominic Diño (manpower), Loida Antonio (process documentation), Dr. Ester Concha (social services), Elmer Labella (information or communication), and all department heads and chief of offices at City Hall.

The group was created through Executive Order 14-14 or “an order creating the Cebu City Mega Cebu Team to oversee, harmonize, monitor, and evaluate the implementation of Mega Cebu Projects and Activities and designation of the Program Coordinator/Point person.”

The program coordinator will serve as focal point person in assisting the mayor in Mega Cebu-related activities in the city and as liaison officer of the team.

The members or the point persons will serve as coordinating and operations unit and process facilitators of various functions or projects of the Mega Cebu program.

The point persons can create sub-committees and engage with public and private organizations to facilitate the delivery of various roles, functions, tasks, responsibilities, and requirements of the unit in achieving the Mega Cebu Vision 2050.

The team will meet regularly for feedback and updates.

Cebu City is one of 13 local government units under the Metro Cebu Development Coordinating Board (MCDCB) that advocate Mega Cebu programs aimed at addressing “various challenges of rapid growth and urbanization in next 30 years” to make Cebu a more sustainable place to live in.

“The Cebu City Mega Cebu Team is created to oversee, harmonize, monitor and evaluate the implementation of various projects and activities which is anchored on the Mega Cebu program framework, strategies, policies, and standards in coordination with the different local working committees and Mega Cebu-Research Planning Organizing and Development (RPOD)/ Focus Area-Based Committees (FABComs),” the executive order reads.

Rama cited Section 3, Article 10 of the Local Government Code, which states that LGUs “may group themselves, consolidate or coordinate their efforts, services, and resources for purposes commonly beneficial to them in accordance with law.”

The other LGUs that adopt the project are the Province of Cebu, the cities of Danao, Mandaue, Carcar, Lapu-Lapu, Naga and Talisay, and the municipalities of Cordova, Consolacion, Compostela, Liloan, Minglanilla and San Fernando.  (FREEMAN)