No-frills ceremony Jonas, councilors to take oath Monday

CEBU, Philippines - Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and all his councilors who were re-elected in the May 13 elections yesterday said the oath-taking ceremony on Monday will be simple.

Cortes yesterday said it has cancelled its inauguration party which would have cost P1.5 million.

The mayor said instead of throwing a lavish party, the money will be used to address the drainage problem and to buy medicines for the city's indigents.

Jamaal James Calipayan, the executive secretary of the mayor, said the inauguration ceremony was supposed to be held at the CICC on July 1.

The city had planned to spend P1.5 million for the dinner for about 1,600 guests.

The budget will be supposedly taken from the mayor's office.

But Cortes changed his mind and wanted the oath-taking ceremony to be simple and solemn.

On June 30, Cortes with his slate will take oath at the Regional Trial Court, branch 56 in the sala of Executive Judge Teresita Galanida at around 9 a.m.

The event will be preceded with a mass in the National Shrine of Saint Joseph at 8 a.m. (FREEMAN)