Increase in police honoraria

CEBU, Philippines - Days after urging the police to solve the increasing number of shooting and carnapping incidents in Cebu City, Mayor Michael Rama promised to increase their honorarium in his mayor’s report during the 76th City Charter Anniversary celebration yesterday.

“We will increase their honorarium from P2,000 to P4,000. Hopefully, it gets to be implemented soon,” Rama told reporters in an interview after the floral offering  at  the  bust of  Don Vicente Rama, the “father of Cebu City” that followed the mayor’s public speech at Plaza Sugbu.

In his speech, Rama asked the Cebu City Police Office officials present led by its OIC Mariano Natuel Jr. to stand up.

This followed after he emphasized his disgust for vigilantism and the goal of solving crimes.

“PNP, can you help me in that direction? Can you help the mayor?” Rama asked, to which the police officials loudly answered “Yes, Sir!”

He also emphasized the autonomy that the city has as a chartered, independent city.

“Ganahan ba mo nga ang region ang mo-rule sa city? Dili taga-syudad mao’y magbantay sa atong City Hall?  Nga sila’y magbuot?” the mayor asked the audience who answered “no”.

The mayor’s speech, lasting almost an hour, was similar to a state of the city address complete with visual presentations and updates on the programs for various sectors.

The official Facebook account of the mayor’s information office reported the mayor was “applauded 38 times including his entrance and exit to the stage, when he delivered the 17 pages Mayor’s Report within 58 minutes and supported by a powerpoint presentation.”

The debated senior citizen financial assistance was also brought up by the mayor in his speech.

“The Senior Citizens continue to receive financial assistance which had been increased this year to P10,000, from the token amount of P4,000 in 2010. This financial assistance had now been enjoyed by more than 60,000 senior citizen beneficiaries under a more relaxed and reasonable guidelines,” he added saying he has removed the rule of getting endorsements.

He also promised to increase it to P12,000.

Rama wanted the release of the financial assistance soonest and city treasurer Emma Villarete said their office will try its best to deliver.

“The suggestion to have the senior citizens financial assistance to be released is a good move and we will try our best to support it whatever way we can. There might be operational difficulties due to cash flow but we will still strive to manage it so that we can give support to the senior citizens monthly,” he said.

In education, he defended using the Special Education Fund as bonus to the public school teachers saying this will discourage them from seeking foreign employment.

“Would you like our teachers to leave the country? We have helped five thousand teachers as we have helped the senior citizens,” he said.

The issue on a private school monopolizing the city scholarship has been addressed, he added.

“As of today, we have 6,500 scholars. Students are free to choose from our list of accredited schools. I cannot allow a monopoly of schools. It should not be abused,” Rama said.

He criticized the previous administration and those pushing for the closure of CCMC saying he is striving to improve the hospital.

“When was the last time they visited CCMC or are they only masters of criticizing our health facility?” he said, adding that the hospital has recently acquired advanced medical equipment to keep up with the private hospitals while providing affordable healthcare services.

The mayor also boasted the city collection of up to P3.7 billion in 2012 from taxes despite zero budget on tax mapping revalidation programs with about 85 percent efficiency.

On the tug-of-war whether or not to demolish illegal settlements at the Citicenter, the mayor said it will be the future home of the city government’s housing program.

“The Citicenter area has earned a bad reputation. Do you want this to continue?” he said.

Carbon Market was also highlighted as a soul of Cebu saying he fought plans of erasing the affordable public market to lead consumers to supermarkets.

“We now have accessible and orderly public markets. After more than 10 years of standoff in the reconstruction of the Carbon Market Unit II, I have caused the termination of the old contract with the previous contractor to pave way for the continuation of the suspended bidding process for the project,” he said. — \BRP (FREEMAN)