Duties as acting VM forces Dondon to drop play invites

CEBU, Philippines — His assumption of duty as acting vice mayor, following the prevention suspension of Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama and the ascension of Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia to fill the temporary vacancy of the Office of the Mayor, has forced Councilor Dondon Hontiveros to turn down several invitations to play basketball outside of Cebu.

Hontiveros, being the city’s number one councilor, has assumed the duties and responsibilities of the Office of the Vice Mayor temporarily vacated by Garcia to assume the role of the mayor while Rama is under suspension.

“I had to cancel some invitations sa mga duwa, panalay, pang solicitations unta to…But follow the lead lang gyud ta and unsay akong obligasyon, akong buhaton,” Hontiveros said.

Hontiveros explained that he continues to play basketball on the side after retiring from the professional league to help people asking for financial assistance from him.

According to him, he uses his appearance fee to pay for solicitations his office received because disbursing government funds is not easy. He was thankful that aside from personal funds, the office of South District Rep. Edu Rama is also helping out with solicitations for medical needs.

Hontiveros, whose ticket to politics was his popularity as professional basketball player, assured the public that he is ready to take on the challenge as the number two official of the city albeit on an acting capacity.

Among his duties and responsibilities is to preside the City Council session. The acting mayor said the task is not new to him since he had been there several times before.

Hontiveros said he will continue promoting the city’s scholarship program in the barangays as well as his sports and youth programs. — (FREEMAN)