Price monitoring

CEBU, Philippines — Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia has ordered a price monitoring in Cebu City so unscrupulous sellers would not prey on the Palarong Pambansa delegations, who purchase in bulk for the food of their respective participants.

He issued the order to Atty. Kristine Joyce Batucan, Cebu City administrator, who was with him when he made his rounds inspecting the billeting quarters of the delegations from the country s 17 regions.

In an interview right after the inspections, Garcia said that he is  impressed  with the current condition of the billeting quarters, attributing the transformation of each school to the delegates.

 Unya malipayon jud kaayo ko and I am very happy, and I am very proud to what they have done,  he said.

As of yesterday, Garcia made rounds to at least eight billeting quarters however, he said that he targets to check all the quarters today.  The foremost concern the delegation brought up to him is weak water supply.

Garcia said this problem is now being addressed by Cebu City Disaster Risk Reduction and Management (CDRRMO) Harold Alcontin, assuring the water supply will be also monitored throughout the event.

Aside from this, he said he would like the prices of goods monitored, after checking eh respective pantries of the Palaro delegates.

 Just to take a look and check nga kini atong mga presyo dili musaka pag-ayo. Mao nay pinaka-importante,  the acting mayor said.

He, however, added that they had not received any report yet on the price increases around the city.

 Nangagpas lang ba. Nanagana lang gyud ko kay nakit-an nako nga ilang gipangpalit, binulto, dinaghan,  Garcia said.

During the interview, Batucan revealed that the received one incident of overpricing of goods, which they are now looking into. In line with this, Garcia warned establishments that they business permits may be revoked should they be caught doing this.

For his part, Market Administrator Robert Barquilla, in a separate interview, said they already established monitoring teams in all public markets for a  price watch.

Concerning the reported overpricing of vegetable goods at the Carbon Public Market, Barquilla said it was just a result of a bit of a misunderstanding.

He said his office is already in coordination with the office of the acting mayor on the matter.

The Palarong Pambansa 2024 is set to open tomorrow, Tuesday, and Garcia said Cebu City is ready.

 Before they (delegates) even came in, ang atong mga eskwelahan, gipalimpyo gyud nato, ang mga guba nga mga atop, gipapintalan gyud nato, gipang ayo gyud na nato. Pero pagsulod nila, ila pa gyung gi transform, gipanindot pa gyud nila pag ayo,  he said.

Garcia also thanked the local police and the barangay tanods for their visibility at the schools that serve as billeting quarters.

REFRESHER COURSE

Meanwhile, Acting Vice Mayor Donaldo  Dondon  Hontiveros found an opportune time yesterday to flex Mayor Mike L.Rama, who is currently serving a six-month preventive suspension, during  the refresher course for Palaro technical officials held at the University of San Carlos gym in Sanciangko St.

It was unplanned as Mayor Rama, along with Cebu City Sports Commission Chairman John Pages, was just going around visiting the different playing venues of the Palaro.

To Pages  knowledge, the refresher course would start past 9 a.m. yet that they proceeded to the USC gym only to be surprised that the gym s court areas was filled up.

Hontiveros then came just in time for his task to welcome the technical officials of the different sporting events coming from the different parts in the country.

It was an instant reunion for him and Mayor Rama alongside Pages and DepEd-VII officials led by Regional Director Salustiano Jimenez and DepEd-Cebu City Schools Division Superintendent Nimfa Bongo and Assistant Superintendent Adolf Aguilar, as they were the ones who formed the time that bid for Cebu City s hosting of the Palaro.

  He is the very reason why we are here together with RD Sal, chairman John Pages, sir Adolf, mam Nimfa sir Tomas (Pastor of DepEd-VII) . Kami ang magkasama, we were together last year..kami ang nag bid,  Hontiveros said

Hontiveros went on to narrate the final bidding process, with Mayor Rama having a reviewer and ensuring that they memorize their respective parts of the presentation.

 Si Mayor Mike Rama, he s really vital (in the Palaro s return to Cebu City),  he said.

Aguilar was also mentioned for his hard work in preparing everything months before the bidding.

Mayor Rama, for his part, said he was not expecting that moment to happen, especially since he is no longer part of the opening program and no formal invitation have yet reached his end to attend the opening ceremony tomorrow at the Cebu City Sports Center.

 I never expected this is what na makikita ko pagdating ko. I have finished 20 billeting quarters, I ve gone to all of them Today, with John Pages and supposed to be with Dondon, checking the playing venues God is good all the time All the time God is good,  Mayor Rama said, while also telling The Freeman on his way out of the USC gym to proceed with the other venues that perhaps it was a divine intervention.

Mayor Rama also grabbed the opportunity to ask the technical officials to focus on their respective tasks.

 Please, Palaro is us, tayo ang Palaro . Failure of the Palaro, failure nating lahat  Focus on our responsibility, never mind the glory, never mind fame . Bring about the best in the athletes, because the athletes are the future of this country,  he said.

Rama also rendered a song (One in a Million You) to the technical officials, with the majority singing along with him.

 One song to bring to all of you, to remember that we are one in a million.  US , not  ASS .  Unity and Sacrifices , that is the formula to success One Cebu island,  Rama said.

Despite his preventive suspension, Rama said he went around the city visiting billeting quarters and competition venues to give a needed morale booster to the athletes, while at the same time fulfill his responsibilities as president of the League of Cities of the Philippines ensuring the safety of every member of each delegation, as they are away from their respective homes.

Hontiveros also echoed Rama s statement, saying ensuring the success of the Palaro is a  shared responsibility , not only to ensure fairness in the conduct of the games but also to instill in the athletes the  spirit of sportsmanship, discipline and respect .(CEBU NEWS)