STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS(Delivered during the Inaugural Session of the 13th Sangguniang Panlungsod)July 2, 2014

By: Hon. Michael Lopez RamaMayor

Honourable Vice-Mayor, Edgardo C. Labella, Ladies and Gentlemen of the 13th Sangguniang Panlungsod, city government officials and employees, Dept. Heads & Chief of Offices, Brgy. Captains, Sr. Citizens distinguished guests, members of the media, friends, ladies and gentlemen, good morning!

At the outset, I would like to thank the Sanggunian Panlungsod for inviting me to this inaugural session. It has been about a year and one day ago today when all of us, me included, have been elected into office: YOU as members of the 13th Sanggunian and ME, as your Mayor. By tradition and as our way of putting flesh to the word transparency and accountability in public service, we need to show and convey to our people, our avowed masters, the affairs of our city under our watch. Now, at the onset of the 2nd year in office of the members of the 13th Sanggunian Panlungsod, it is my honor and privilege to report to this August Body and to the people of Cebu City whom you represent, the state of the Citys affair after another year of service.

To recall, during the last years Inaugural Address that I delivered before this August Body, I assured all of you that our journey OUR VOYAGE - towards genuine public service and meaningful development is safe and secure because City Hall is SEAWORTHY. I dared everyone, then, to join me in that voyage as we steer the city with a policy direction that is People-Privately Driven Governance guided always by our mantra, Tul-iron ang Hiwi, Nindoton ang Bati, Limpyohon ang Hugaw, Wagtangon ang Baho ug Han-ayon ang Gubot. We were proven right in our belief then that, indeed, public-private partnership not only works wonders; more importantly, it spreads the burden of service and governance to many stakeholders, who we refer to in our Spider Web Approach Illustration as the Action Teams.

As emphasized, the present three year term is not only dedicated to completing the programs and projects in the previous term but also on governance that directly benefits our constituents.

We have promised to continue the works we have previously started, guided by our Vision of making Cebu City a livable and sustainable community with a dynamic, healthy, productive and active constituency playing a vital role in managing our resources with the end in view of achieving our mission of bringing back the hope of the youth and the children to trust government. Our efforts are still based on our platform of governance which is SEE D BIG 3Ps with particular focus on the following projects, programs and policy directions:

Drainage and 3- meter easement along the riverbanks. Towards that direction we have activated the ReDZ or Reduce Danger Zones, expanding its mandate towards the management of rivers. We have implemented Php 250 Million worth of drainage projects spanning around 7,000 linear meters of drainage lines, along with those implemented by DPWH.

On Disaster Preparedness, we took particular focus on the re-blocking and widening of interior roads. These, we were able to accomplish in Barangays T. Padilla, Bato-Ermita, Carreta and Tejero, transforming these places from a place of chaos to a haven of order. Moreover, the monstrous fire that hit Barangay Lorega confronted us with the gargantuan challenge but for a noble purpose, the task of rebuilding the dreams of the hundreds of victims. Productive Use of CitiCenter lot, Block 27 and the city property near IT Park. The structure at CitiCenter is being demolished to pave way for a housing project. Block 27 is due for sale should the council authorize us to do so, for which I am optimistic they will. Some real properties were sold in the past, and saw that these all proved beneficial to the city. I dont see any reason why we cannot be allowed to endeavor to dispose some more.

Asphalting and Cementing of roads. - We have been true to our commitment to continue the asphalting and concreting of our city and farm to market roads. To date we were able to asphalt around 40,665 lineal meters and concreted around 33,215 lineal meters of roads amounting to Php 183 Million and Php 265.72 Million, for asphalting and concreting, respectively.

We also address the infrastructure needs of our barangays and department offices like multi-purpose buildings, the most recent of which is the construction of the Office of the City Civil Registrar Building.

Freedom Park, Warwick and Carbon Area as heritage sites. The Carbon Market Unit 2 reconstruction is moving after being stalled for more than a decade. The fire in Warwick paved way to the initial development of the area. Soon, full development will be undertaken together with the adjacent Freedom Park through a Joint Venture or Private Public Partnership.

Development moving towards the mountains balanced with environmental preservation. Access roads are being planned and studied to connect the city to other municipalities via the routes passing through the mountain barangays.

Parallel to this, our City Agriculture Office also intensified its efforts in implementing reforestation in the barangay roadside, communities and schools as well as in the development of showcase areas on vegetables and livestock in 28 upland barangays in coordination with the Cebu City Farmers Federation and the Cebu City Hillyland Development Board. Through these efforts, we were able to initiate the holding of the 1st Cebu Agri-Bonanza participated by farmers in our upland barangays.

Legal actions against illegal structures along rivers and creeks. Our waterbed is degrading. Our rivers and creeks are vital to the preservation and conservation of potable water supply. We are serious in taking legal actions against owners of nuisance structures who will not heed the call in restoring and protecting our rivers and creeks. Through our committed lawyers and staffs in the legal office, who, for the record, have won land mark cases for the City of Cebu such as the Rallos Case, the restoration and protection of our rivers and creeks will definitely be a major legal agenda for this administration.

Franchise Tax, real property tax and taxes due from hospitals. Taxes are the lifeblood of government in the delivery of basic service in line with the maxim Salus Populi est Suprema Lex (The welfare of the people is the supreme law). The City Assessors Office had made a no-nonsense valuation of the real properties and had come up with an assessment of Php 29 Billion Taxable Assessed Value of taxable real properties in Cebu City. This would easily translate to around Php 870 Million in realty taxes if collected properly.

As we are now able to determine the Citys worth and potential, the City Treasurers Office likewise embarked on an aggressive tax collection effort. This we did without necessarily increasing the tax rates. As doomsayers started painting a bleak picture on our financial status, saying that we will default in paying our loan obligations for SRP, the City Treasurers Office immediately debunked the myth by paying out our obligations on time along with the other payables, including benefits due to the employees.

Housing Program for our employees. - The employees themselves have been our partners to this end as they themselves have formed into a Housing Cooperative which is believed to be the only one recognized under the new law. This administration gives full support to this endeavor by providing available lots for housing which includes among others the Sugbo Homes and Citicenter property.

Open Communication for public opinion. - We have established the City Hall Radio Program every morning over DYLA. LCD TV is provided to report to the public updates on the initiatives of the city. A system of constant dialogue has been in place to resolve concerns of some sectors like the jeepney drivers during strikes, victims of fires and calamities and homeowner concerns, among others. We have set multi-sectoral task groups to respond to the problems brought about by the El Nino phenomenon, which we call Task Force KINABUHI, as well as for the CCMC re-building, dubbed as the Piso mo, Hospital Ko endeavor. We always believed that a well informed and actively involved people make up a good constituency.

We have continuously motivated and ensured among our employees to deliver quick and quality service. Trainings and continuous learning education are being provided. We are happy to note that every Monday morning during the Flag Raising Ceremony, majority, if not all of our employees are present to pledge allegiance to the flag and swear to become honest public servants. That is the foundation of nationalism and patriotism.

We are happy to report that our frontline units have institutionalized the Program City Hall at Your Doorstep.We likewise established the City Hall satellite office at Barangay Taptap, dubbed as City Hall sa Bukid where we try to bring our services to the mountain barangays. Of particular mention is the service provided by the Office of the Civil Registrar such as but not limited to requests of NSO birth certificates and late registrations. The City Hall sa Bukid concept brought not only convenience to the upland barangay constituents but also resulted in some savings in their transportation expense in going to the city for the same transaction.

Still, we will continue to cleanse our ranks from the lazy, the incompetent, the corrupt, the litterbugs and the intrigue-mongers. Those who have been found positive of prohibited drugs are out. We have to maintain the trust of the people in our public office. On one hand, we will not fail to give incentives. But, benefits and bonus are to be given quid pro quo, that is, employees should earn and work for it. I have always said, Tabaho... Trabaho... Trabaho. Menosan ang Politika! Serbisyo Serbisyo. Serbisyo, Dili Perhuwisyo, Labi na nga Dili Sagulan ug Negosyo.

We are working on the productivity of SRP. We are getting proposals for a retirement village and for hotels. The road infrastructure and utilities has to be completed and transportation system has to be in place for the inevitable operation of SM and Filinvest this year or early next year. Other developments on the pipeline are the Japanese Retirement Facility, the Kawit Area Development proposed by a Middle East real estate developer as well as the Commercial Township Development on the 26 hectares San Pedro Calungsod Templete Site.

We have institutionalized the efficient and effective delivery of financial aid to senior citizens and PWDs, Solo Parents and Children in Conflict with Law, continuously updating and profiling our list of the said beneficiaries. Likewise, the giving of relief and financial assistance during calamities is done quickly within 2-3 days by our DSWS staff who worked tirelessly and unceasingly during those times when disaster response is needed. We commit to continue providing our senior citizens and PWDs with financial incentives particularly during Christmas.

Livelihood among our constituency is likewise a major concern. Your mayor is not remiss on this aspect having initiated the first ever job fair which has now been institutionalized through our programs at Department of Manpower Development and Placement. Sa buhatan sa DMDP, padayon ang paghatag sa: D DUGANGM MAKAT-ONAND DISENTENGP PANGINABUHIAN

Because of our continuing efforts to hold job placement activities, the City of Cebu is recently awarded the 2013 Regional Best PESO Highly Urbanized Category.

The city will initiate activities and interventions for the families of Overseas Filipino Workers.

Health is and will always be a primordial concern of this administration. Despite our debacle due to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit us last year, our very own Cebu City Medical Center, the Peoples Hospital, in particular, did not stop in circulation but continued with its operation delivering the same quality health care services to all city constituents. Despite its limitations, CCMC still caters to the same number of OPD patients and emergency cases.

During these trying times for our CCMC, the City Health Department also did its share of providing primary health care to our constituency, thereby reducing the number of admissions to the CCMC. In particular, normal birth deliveries and treatment of minor illnesses are now being accommodated at our vastly improved and PhilHealth accredited health centers in the barangays. Disease prevention is also a prime concern of our City Health Department, thus, they embark on a program of massive Flu and Pneumonia Vaccination for our elderly and senior citizens. Efforts in addressing Issues on HIV AIDS shall be continually pursued since this will affect the future of children.

On the matter of safe food consumption, our DVMF strengthened its meat and fish inspection services to ensure our constituency that meat and fish sold in our markets are safe. Likewise, spay and neuter programs and free vaccinations are being continued without let-up thereby lessening the number of unwanted stray animals and the incidence of rabies cases.

Peace and Order in our city is relatively fair. Thank God and the Peace & Order Coordinating Council (PCAC) we havent experienced incidents of very serious crimes like those in other areas of the country. We are continuously running after indecency through CAIB. We are working with the police on reducing petty crimes arising from drugs and drunkenness and against illegal gambling. We shall take a positive and pro-active stance on the crimes recorded in the City. While the statistics may not be something to cheer about, on a positive note, it also means that incidents are reported because people come to trust the city police force.

Water remains a great concern in the city. There is an emphasis on this for we know that water is life. Efforts to address the need for adequate water supply are undertaken with the support of MCWD. Further, the Septage Management and river clean-up are spearheaded by MCWD to address the issue of water contamination. With CCENRO spearheading the Solid Waste Management efforts, we have launched recently the pilot Septage facility at the North Reclamation Area in partnership with a firm from Yokohama and JICA. The septage treatment facility, which costs around Php 15 million, can process 100 cubic meters of Septic Waste per hour. The septage facility project comes with the provision of brand new dumptruck. A plastic shredder equipment has been installed at Inayawan landfill for the plastic waste-to-energy facility which could bring in millions in investments (Mansie 13 Million). In addition to the aforementioned support from the City of Yokohama, another 10 garbage trucks will be forthcoming still with the assistance of JICA.

Gubat Sa Basura and Solidwaste Management. - We are in an all-out war against garbage, a war which our Department of Public Services took to the barangay level. Compliance to the law, particularly the No Segregation, No Collection policy, is being enforced through the no-nonsense campaign by BEO and CESET. Adverse reactions are coming out, but dura lex sed lex the law may be harsh, but it is the law.

Education, Sports, Arts and Culture. The recent CVRAA event in Cebu City proved that Cebu City is not only home of great athletes, it has also the best potentials to host and hold well-organized sporting events. We have witnessed the flourishing of international sports events like soccer being held in Cebu City. The K+12 system has to be seriously looked into. Government should be proactive in order to avoid issues like losing ones job as experienced among teachers in college and the lack of facilities in high school. Government should take a paradigm shift in the utilization of the Special Education Fund (SEF) in order to address the requirements of the K plus 12 particularly on hiring more teachers.

Of course, let it not be forgotten that in all of our efforts for good governance and better service to the constituency particularly during calamities, the General Services Office is always there to lend support and assistance on a 24/7 basis by providing logistical and transportation support services, among others.

As partners in governance, we will continue our programs on capability building for barangay officials. I am constantly reminding our barangay captains to act as little mayors in their respective barangays. It is my firm belief that a lot of problems at the barangay level can be solved with fully capacitated barangay officials.

Looking Back at the Year 2013:

The year 2013 was a year of great calamities for us. We were confronted by one calamity after another: a sea tragedy involving the collision of a passenger liner and an oil tanker where many people perished; a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that gripped the city and the neighboring islands in terror and left us in ruins, and a Super Typhoon that ravaged not only our homes but also tested our will and our resolve. Despite it all, the optimists that we are and the Christians that we ought to be, we can always look back at 2013 as a year when we were given the opportunity to rise above our own personal agenda and to be generous to our neighbors who were hardly hit by those tragedies particularly the Super Typhoon Yolanda. It was the year when we proved ourselves ready, willing and able to address calamities with quickness, presence of mind and resolve, in a systematic and orderly manner.

Indeed, tragedies also provide for opportunities. Because of the earthquake in October last year, everyone came and took their chance to give their share to rebuild the peoples Hospital, the Cebu City Medical Center. Our effort to raise the needed funds for its re-building is continuing and had shown great promise. I have told all of you then, and I will tell you again now, I do not mind being labeled a professional beggar in the annals of history. But for this noble cause, I will continue to beg, in my own way, to anybody who cares, be he a person or be it an institution, in order to raise the needed funds that will bring back the peoples hospital. For this, I thank again the 13th Sanggunian for heeding the clarion call by initially providing 300 million pesos for the rebuilding of the peoples hospital. I do hope and pray that the initial amount is not to be the last even as I am confident that it will not be. I would also thank Operation Smile, PAGCOR & the rest for responding to our call for help.

Looking Forward:

This year, we learned the good news about the BRT project being approved for implementation. We know that as we implement this BRT Project, we will also deal with the APEC and International Eucharistic Congress. These are two of the many best things that will happen to Cebu City and we need to be ready and pro-active on this. Thus, our infrastructures particularly our road networks and road traffic systems had to be in place. An estimated budget of P800 Million is needed for the rehabilitation of our traffic system. CCTVs have been installed and our Command Center is fully operational to address traffic monitoring and crime prevention.

In the previous term 2010 to 2013, a lot of things have been accomplished. I believe that with our mantra of Together We Can Make Better Things Happen for Cebu City, we are very certain that still we can do a lot more. The tasks ahead are numerous as they are challenging but with the spirit of Voluntarism always within us, nothing is impossible for it is said that no one should underestimate the heart of a Volunteer. Thus, together we will strive to achieve the following: Build the new peoples hospital. Build homes for our employees. Apportion land to the landless. Continue our earnest efforts to resolve the 93-1 tenurial issue with the concrete settlement plans we have agreed in principle with the province. Build a childrens park at the site of the old Pasil Fish Market, thereby restoring the heritage value of the San Nicolas Parish Church. Establish a Magellans Park beside the Senior Citizens Park. Complete the concreting of all farm-to-market roads. Address the problem on the lack of emergency exits in our school buildings as a manifestation of our sincere concern to the safety of our school children. For this, we have allocated the amount of Php 22 million. We can witness the realization of the third Mactan bridge. Our efforts are drawing support from the Officials of the Municipality of Cordova and from the National government and private sector, as well. Beautify S. Osmena Boulevard transforming it as a scenic gateway from the port and airport to the heritage sites of the city, thanks to SM, DPWH and the Parks and Playground Commission of Cebu City. Utilize fully the economic potentials of SRP and bail out the city from the SRP loan that still stands at P3Billion even after more than ten (10) years of payment. We will pursue concrete actions in bailing out the City from the current SRP Loan. Clean our rivers, creeks and coastline by implementing the 3 meter easement and completing the seawall along our coastline barangays. Likewise, MCWD, in agreement with the City Government, will spearhead a program to clean the rivers, creeks and esteros and will actively be involved in the restoration of the 3 meters easement.

We will seriously restore and recover all sidewalks freeing them from obstructions to give due space for pedestrians. MCWD will have to help by relocating water meters from sidewalks.We will address concerns on road traffic congestions and road safety measures through an Executive Order that allocates u-turn slots, constructs flares on intersections, road widening, and established no left turn policies, (especially in the Bantal area) and one-way or two-way streets (especially in Carbon Market).We will transform the roads in Carbon Market into a vibrant Night Market Area where no parking policy will be adopted in the evening.By December of this year, we will endeavor to establish Communal toilets in sitios and communities where they are needed particularly in the coastal areas.We will establish a mortuary and parking building beside the San Nicolas gym for Suba, Pasil and Sawang Calero so that wakes on the streets will be prohibited. We can build and operate the BRT in a thorough manner with participation and consultation of all concerned stakeholders.We will continue to support the efforts of the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board in the Mega Cebu 2050: Making W.A.V.E.S PROJECT or Wholesome, Advanced, Vibrant, Equitable and Sustainable projects for Cebu. Our tangible contribution to the Mega Cebu is the Memorandum of Understanding the City of Cebu had entered into with Yokohama City, Japan with possible technical and financial assistance from Japan International Cooperation Agency.We will pursue the transfer of school sites for Barangays Sapangdaku and Busay due to the danger posed to children. We shall endeavor a grass root or bottoms up urban greening and edible landscaping.We will allocate funds in the budget for police cars. In motivating our police force, we look for funds not focusing on rewards to tipsters but for the awards of heroic policemen performing under exceptional circumstances.

We have the proven track record of doing things as evidence by the awards and recognitions being bestowed upon our City. To name a few, we have been a recipient of Two (2) e-Governance Awards given by the National ICT Confederation of the Philippines in coordination with the DILG. We were also ranked as among the Top 10 Cities in e-Readiness Leadership Awards given by ICTO-DOST, in coordination with DILG, DTI and US-AID.

Together with all sectors and stakeholders: the academe, media, church, business, NGOs, POs and civic groups, we shall continue to make the City of Cebu the Best in our country and in Asia ably projecting it as a city of Culture, Exemplary Performance in Local & E Governance, a Top Tourist Destination, the No. 1 Livable City in the Philippines, a Top BPO destination, a Heritage City, the home of the Sinulog, the mother of all Festivals and Buhing Kalbaryo including Pasko sa V. Rama, and so on and so forth. All these will be achieved further through our peoples mutual undertaking with our administrations advocacy of Barangayan, Bayanihan and Boluntarismo.

We shall work together with the ardent desire and focused objective to make the poors lives to become better; for the middle class constituents to live and feel comfortable; and for the rich, not to control.

We shall continue to show and deliver super service to our constituents. I, as your mayor will not be deterred by some snags and adverse observations of other agencies and institutions in the way we are managing and delivering our services to the people. I challenge anyone, even as I can look them directly in the eye, and say to them in all candor and humility, that your mayor is not tainted with any shreds of corruption. Our Accounting Office and Budget Office along with our Internal Audit Office made sure that matters regarding compliance of budget, accounting and auditing laws, rules, policies and regulations are being done by the respective departments through constant review of financial data of Offices as well as the operating systems and processes that are in place.

With what is going on in our country and the seemingly misdirected approach of agencies that are supposed to help rather than impair, to expedite rather than impede, I now strongly consider to take a serious look on the need for constitutional change. I believe this change can offer us better solutions to the woes and fundamental problems that beset our nation be it economic or political.

Finally, I shall reiterate the stand that this administration shall remain as an Administration of Us, A Government of We and not of You and I. As I had repeatedly asked from all of you, particularly my beloved department heads, who I always fondly refer to as the Wind Beneath my Wings: UKU ta - Usa ta. Kuyog ta. Uban ta. Through our advocacy espoused under the framework of Bayanihan, Barangayan and Boluntarismo, together we shall continue our voyage towards better, quick, quality service for a wholesome and balanced development for our city. Despite the challenges that we had, City hall has remained seaworthy. I will continue to steer this ship called City hall to greater and better horizons. With you the members of this August Body and my beloved department heads manning all stations, we will surely reach our charted destination, a destination that is charted for the people, by the people and of the people.

Tungod kay Kamo, mga Katawhan, ang among AgalonKami ang inyong Suluguon.

Thank you very much. Daghang Salamat ug Maayong Buntag Kanatong Tanan!!!

SEOR SANTO NIO, HAVE MERCY ON US! MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP, PRAY FOR US! BIRHEN SA GUADALUPE, PRAY FOR US! SAN PEDRO CALUNGSOD, PRAY FOR US! --oOo--

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