Cortes eyeing Congress seat

CEBU, Philippines - Right after he delivered the last State of the City Address for his current term two days ago, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes said he is open to run as congressman in next year’s elections.

Cortes said this is one of his “options” for the upcoming elections.

He also said that some members of the Liberal Party, where he belongs, suggested that they swap positions with Cebu sixth district Representative Luigi Quisumbing.

“Daghang options. In fact, naa say kuan (suggestions) sa partido nga mag-swap. I’m open to it,” Cortes said.

The mayor added that if he is elected congressman, he will make Mandaue a lone district, re-classify the lands of the city, make Consolacion a city, and develop Cordova, among others.

“ I’ve seen unsay mga angay’ng buhaton for Mandaue. Una, lone district. Ikaduha, ang katong re-classification sa atong mga yuta… Daghan pa. Hopefully, makuan ni no? Pero trabaho lang una ta,” the mayor said.

Aside from announcing his plans for the 2016 elections, Cortes also said that he will support Quisumbing if the latter decides to run as local chief executive of Mandaue.

“I will,” was his short reply when asked if he will back Quisumbing, whom other LP members also egged on to run for mayor.

In a text message, Quisumbing said he is honored by the mayor’s expression of support.

“I am honored by the vote of confidence of someone I greatly respect. The opinion of the mayor and the rest of the leaders of the party in Mandaue will be one of my foremost considerations in deciding our plans for 2016,” read Quisumbing’s text message.

Cortes also said that one of the “qualities” he is looking for in the next mayor of Mandaue is that the man would continue what he has started.

“Unta he will support what we have started, especially sa PGS (Performance Governance System).  Ang ako lang gyod, nakita man gyod nato with PGS, all these projects nga atong na-implementar nga it’s because of the Performance Governance System,” Cortes said.

He added that he would want the next mayor to “continue what is good, and correct what is wrong.”  (FREEMAN)