CEBU, Philippines - To bring back the hope of the youth and children to trust government.
This is re-elected Mayor Michael Rama’s mission on his second term, which starts Monday.
“Many young people nowadays believe that people in politics are all corrupt. I asked a group of young students who visited me in my office about what they think about government officials. They were one in describing them to be corrupt. This has to be changed. Change of mindset is necessary,†Rama explained while facing the editors of The Freeman and Banat News.
Rama was accompanied by vice mayor-elect Edgar Labella in presenting their priority development programs. Labella said he is one with the mayor especially on pushing for leadership by example.
“I joined mayor Mike because we believe in the same philosophy. We are not masters, but servants of the people,†Labella said.
He added that leading the next council will require him to be objective and set aside political affiliations.
“As presiding officer of the city council, I have to observe principle of check and balance,†Labella continued.
As part of the priorities of the new Rama administration, the mayor emphasized that he will definitely be addressing traffic problems in the city through road widening and not flyovers.
Rama has been opposing the proposed flyover projects believing these do not answer traffic problems.
“If we allow those flyovers, Cebu city will be a turtle city. We need to stop building flyovers because we are in a compact city. Also, it kills business establishments beside these structures,†the mayor explained.
He added that experts’ opinion must be seriously considered. (FREEMAN)