Cuenco wants pending ordinances approved

CEBU, Philippines — Cebu City South District Councilor James Anthony Cuenco said that among his prime concerns are the ordinances that had not yet been passed by the City Council.

This is in addition to his plan to push for a mass transport system in the city.

“I am not assured of what committee I will get when the new council convenes in July. However, since that is one of my priority projects, I would like to pursue it,” said Cuenco in an interview with the city’s Public Information Office (PIO).

Currently, Cuenco chairs the council’s committees on transportation and house rules and oversight.

He said among the pending ordinances is the ordinance on “disaster resiliency” which he wants implemented already.

Cuenco explained that the measure will provide an opportunity for the residents to prepare in case disasters or emergencies hit the city.

“Kadtong experience nato didto sa (typhoon) Odette, daghan kaayo ta og leksyon nga nakat-onan. Daghan ang kakuwangan ilabi na pananglitan mga basic nga necessities like water gyud. Since walay power di maka-pump og tubig sa atong mga residente, ang MCWD (Metropolitan Cebu Water District) wa maka-prepare, ang ilang mga generators nga supposedly naa wala na kaayo mag-function ang kadaghanan. So, dapat gyud preparahan kana,” said Cuenco.

“Kanang mga gas stations, mao na atong experience taas kaayong linya, unya kaning mga water refilling stations, kaning mga banks, for example, and even mga drugstores, dapat duna silay ample supply of medicines nga gikinahanglan. Mao nay atong na-experience sa pandemic. These are the things nga nalakip sa atong ordinance, nga ma-prepare ta for any emergency nga mahitabo in the future,” he added.

In the same proposed ordinance, business permits will not be issued to companies, whose services or products are very important to society, if they do not comply with the “average daily supply” requirement.

Cuenco said another pending is the crematorium.

“Gusto ta nga magtukod og kaugalingong crematorium diri sa city aron prepared ta sa any eventuality. Pareha atong nahitabo sa COVID, daghan kaayong nangamatay dugay kaayo na-cremate, taas kaayo ang pila, mag wait og how many days or weeks, especially kadtong dili maka-afford natong mga indigents diri sa city,” said Cuenco.

Once approved and implemented, Cuenco said the crematorium will be free for the city residents.

He said the plan is to build the crematorium at the South Road Properties (SRP).

Meanwhile, Cuenco also wants convenience for people in transacting with the city government, which is why there should be a “one-stop shop” established for the issuance of permits.

“Ang akong gusto naa pa lang sa barangay mismo naa na diha ang serbisyo. Ang kinahanglan nato ang connectivity para online ta sa tanang ahensya sa gobyerno nga critical nga kinahanglan ana nga permits,” he said.

“I hope this time, super majority na man ta, di na kaayo ta maglisod sa pagpapasar sa mga critical kaayo nga ordinansa, ug mga projects nato nga makatabang sa Dakbayan sa Sugbo,” he added.

Aside from the ex-officio members of the City Council which are the Liga ng mga Barangay president and Sangguniang Kabataan chairperson, the Barug-PDP-Laban won 12 of the 16 council seats after the May 9, 2022 elections. — GMR (FREEMAN)