OSCA to stay in same location

CEBU, Philippines — The Office of the Senior Citizens Affairs (OSCA) will stay in its current hub after Cebu City Mayor Mike Rama revoked a supposed memorandum for its transfer to another location.

Mayor Rama made such a decision after receiving a letter for reconsideration from the newly-appointed OSCA head, Atty. Homer Cabaral, according to the City’s News and Information team.

City Councilor Pastor “Jun” Alcover Jr., who was also caught by surprise by the memo of the transfer, has also appealed to Rama to reconsider the decision accordingly since the current location, which is just across the executive building of the Cebu City Hall, is ideal for senior citizens.

The mayor also said he wants to check the memo, dated April 2, 2024, to determine who counter-signed it.

It is a standard operating procedure for the mayor to sign documents if countersigned by his authorized persons who have gone through the details of the documents.

Based on a copy of the memo posted by city councilor Jun Alcover, the mayor’s signature was a bit blurry than the counter-sign.

“Ako pa na i-check,” Rama said over his regular program thru the City’s Sugboanon channel.

Rama said he does not remember signing the memo, citing that he has piles of documents in his office that he reviews before signing.

Rama lamented that some personalities at City Hall often badger him to prioritize some of their documents for signing.

“Sus kakita palang ka sa mga papel nga akong pinirmahan. Unya uban dali-dalion pako. Wala mo kabantay ana?” Rama said.

“Gatoo mo saayon ra mamirma kung mayor ka? Dayun kung balibaran, masilo na,” he added.

On that memo, OSCA was told to vacate and relocate as the City Treasurer’s Office is going to use it.

Cabaral felt a sigh of relief over the latest development.

"Nalipay mi nga naka-decide si Mayor nga gi-revoke ang memo kay pinangga baya niya ang mga senior citizens,” Cabaral said. (CEBU NEWS)