City councilors given executive functions

CEBU, Philippines — "In order to promote faster government service operations," some Cebu City Councilors have been given executive functions and were tasked as overseer to some of the departments of the City Hall.

This was the announcement of Cebu City acting mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia during the flag raising ceremony yesterday, May 27, 2024.

In a press conference right after the flag-raising ceremony, Garcia explained that his decision to give some legislative body members the executive function is due to the manifestation of some city councilors to help him as acting mayor.

“It’s more of helping me oversee some of the departments in City Hall,” said Garcia.

Garcia further said that rather than having the councilors express their “complaints”, he would allow

them to extend their help and make a “difference.”

Among the councilors that Garcia has already spoken to is Councilor Noel Wenceslao, who will be overseeing the Cebu City Assessor’s Office considering that the City Assessor, Maria Therese Rosell, is among the seven officials slapped with six-month preventive suspension together with Mayor Michael Rama.

“And he (Wenceslao) is a former city assessor for about a year so he said ‘I will help’. And then I said ‘okay, I will make you oversee the assessor’s office together with the OIC that I designated,” said Garcia.

Garcia said that currently, he is getting messages of gratitude saying that the City Assessor’s Office now is “more efficient” and more “customer-friendly.”

Another overseer is Councilor Joel Garganera for the Disaster’s office. Garganera is the Chairman of the Committee on Disaster of the City Council.

Councilor Pancresio Esparis will also be overseeing the Social Welfare and Services. Esparis is also the Chairman of the Committee on Social Services of the city council.

Further, Councilor Jun-jun Esmeña, who chairs the Parks and Playgrounds of the City Council will also be overseeing the Markets.

Councilor Jerry Guardo, who chairs the Committee on Infrastructure, will be overseeing the Department of Engineering.

According to Garcia, the respective expertise of each legislator will be of great help to run the executive branch.

As for the minority of the body, Garcia said he has yet to talk to them considering that none have approached him yet.

“But I am very very open to the possibility that they will also be helping me out oversee some of the departments of the City of Cebu,” said Garcia.

Garcia, however, clarified that the extent of overseeing tasks is limited to making recommendations, consultations, and suggestions.

“Di na magpasabot nga the City Councilors will substitute for the mayor,” he said. — (FREEMAN)