State of the City Address: Garcia hails ‘diplomacy’

“Diplomacy works.”

CEBU, Philippines — This is how Acting Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia assessed his more than two months of leadership during his State of the City Address (SOCA) yesterday, July 3, 2024.

During the annual inaugural reorganization session yesterday of the 16th Sangguniang Panlunglod of Cebu City, Garcia stood before the public at the Doña Eve Macaraeg - Macapagal Hall to deliver his SOCA.

Garcia assumed the position as acting mayor last May 10, 2024, when Mayor Michael Rama was slapped with a six-month preventive suspension.

In his SOCA, Garcia underscored his diplomacy approach in leading the Cebu City government, while remembering how he, as part of the City Council, helped pass “meaningful ordinances and conveyed through resolutions the collective thoughts and positions on matters of tremendous importance.”

He mentioned the creation of the Heritage District of Cebu and the Heritage District Council, institutionalization of the Order of Rajah Tupas, “the highest award the Sanggunian can confer a Cebuano.”

“Similarly, though our stands may differ on certain things, we have always been bound by our common and all-encompassing goal, which is working for what we feel and know is for the best of our constituency in the City of Cebu,” Garcia said.

“This goal, I believed then, as strongly as I believe now, ties us together and makes us true equals – each of us primus inter pares – despite our differing party affiliations,” he added.

And since his campaign battle cry is “Resulta ang Garantiya,” he would work on with RESULTA (Responsiveness and commitment towards Education, Settlements or housing, Urban development, Livelihood, Transportation, and Advancing civil society participation in local governance.

“I said this as vice mayor then and I say it as acting mayor now, resulta ang garantiya,” said Garcia.

He also mentioned how through diplomacy he made “meaningful dialogue” with the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD), which would later on result in water supply in several mountain barangays.

He likewise mentioned the negotiation with the Cebu Ports Authority (CPA) amidst the legal dispute over three properties.

“Through diplomacy, we come meaningfully closer to finally resolving the 93-1 issue, which means responding to the needs of the many Cebu City residents who are occupying province-owned lots and who have been trying, since 1993, to lawfully acquire these,” he also said.

“Diplomacy works,” he added.

He likewise reiterated in his SOCA his guiding principle of not making the public wait and for public servants to always provide service beyond self-interest.

“We will continue to streamline the city's processes in the manner consistent with how we streamlined the services of our City Assessor's Office,” he also said, citing as example the now-shorter Monday flag-raising ceremony, which resulted in more time in attending to the needs of the public.

Garcia then vowed to continue to observe “sound fiscal management”, like what he did for the Palarong Pambansa budget.

He likewise mentioned the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), saying it being a divisive issue means “(t)he Cebuano is invested in resolving this major concern”.

Prior to Garcia’s SOCA, Hontiveros also delivered his own message, beginning with a tribute to the public, city councilors, and his mother, as well as acknowledging Mayor Michael Rama, whom he said paved the way for his entry into public service.

“To my fellow public servants, you stay amazing, you have been a blessing, continue to be the change you want to see. Your dedication to public service is very enriching, and for that I am forever grateful, hopeful that we remain steadfast in our commitment to serve the public,” he said.

“I am confident in the continuous support and collaboration of my esteemed colleagues…. Together we will build a Cebu City that is inclusive, progressive and resilient,” he added.  — /RHM (FREEMAN)