Cebu City mayor picks new alter-ego

CEBU, Philippines - One month after Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama reshuffled his department heads last Jan. 2, a new City Hall administrator was appointed yesterday.

Rama has designated Dr. Lucelle Mercado, chairperson of  the Cebu City Anti-Indency Board (CAIB) and Garbo Asenso Sumbanan Alyansa (GASA), as OIC city administrator replacing Eng. Eugene Elizalde, the former Police Coordinating and Advisory Council (PCAC) chief who replaced Atty. Jose Marie Poblete last month.

The mayor signed Mercado’s appointment late morning yesterday.

Rama said Mercado will retain her posts as chief of CAIB and GASA if  she would continue to  perform well.

Mercado, on the other hand, said she is ready to take the challenge as new city administrator, saying “I think there is no difference between a girl and a boy in terms of capabilities.”

Mercado was informed of her new assignment before Rama took a week–long vacation abroad.

“I was given a long-time to think,” she said.

Her first task is to re-assess Rama’s projects since the beginning of his administration.

Rama said having Mercado as administrator one month after replacing Poblete with Elizalde was a matter of “trust and confidence.” Rama refused to elaborate.

Elizalde, on the other hand, would continue to function as Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) board member representing the engineering sector.

He said he asked the mayor to reconsider his decision appointing him as city administrator so he could focus on fully serving his six-year term as MCWD board member, as he is still on his first year.

“We both decided that I will stay at MCWD. I cannot hold multiple responsibilities and I cannot have two masters at the same time, but I will continuously help the mayor,” he said, adding that he also does not want to violate the law on double compensation.

Rama, though, said that Elizalde would still be part of the administration’s flagship programs to beautify the South Road Properties and coastal areas, and revitalized, the coastal (area) beautiful, revitalize the uptown area.

He said he also wanted to have a balance between development and protection and preservation of the environment in the upland areas  of  the city.

“Elizalde did also his soul-searching after I designated him as city administrator. I respected his position that he may not be able to pursue or continue to become city admin, but he would continue to be with us,” Rama said.— /RHM (FREEMAN)