Job creation, help for cities with ‘local OFWs’

SENATOR-ELECT Sergio “Serge” Osmeña III pledged yesterday to build more schools and to help cities deal with migrant workers, after taking his oath in Cebu City.

“School projects are one of my priorities. As a matter of fact, that’s my number one project around the country para sa mga kabataan. Now, if the new president agrees (to give him access to his “pork barrel”) then we can identify projects beforehand to keep them transparent. Makahibawo ang tawo kon hain man gigastos ang ilang kwarta (People should know how their taxes are being spent) and that’s very important to me,” he said.

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He said that during his second term as senator, particularly from 2003 to 2007, his “pork barrel” or Priority Development Assistance Fund (PDAF) was cancelled, allegedly on orders of President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, for reasons he did not cite.

In the earlier years of his previous term, the senator recalled, he gave about half of his PDAF to Cebu’s schools. He also facilitated about P70 million worth of projects for Cebu City.

He took his oath of office before his brother, Cebu City Mayor and congressman-elect Tomas Osmeña, who begins his first term as south district congressman on Wednesday.

After being elected again as senator, Serge said he will focus, as one of his priorities, on the creation of jobs, particularly in different provinces, to address the increasing number of “local OFWs (overseas Filipino workers)” migrating to big cities.

He will also focus on job creation, especially in the agricultural and banking sectors.

The senator-elect believes there’s a need to revise some laws to encourage foreign investors to come to the country, and also promised to help the new Aquino administration in wiping out corruption.

“Because that’s what we promised. Kung walang corrupt, walang mahirap,” he said.

Asked why he chose to take his oath of office in Cebu City and not together with the other newly elected senators, Serge said he has always taken his oath separately since he was first elected into office.

With the consent of her fellow councilors, councilor-elect Margarita “Margot” Osmeña also took her oath before her husband.

She will still join the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) candidates in this Wednesday’s oath-taking ceremony at City Hall.

“I just thought that siyempre, it’s different when my husband is the one administering the oath. I think it was just, I don’t know, sentimental, but I will be doing it (taking oath) again,” she said.

Members of the Osmeña clan, both incumbent and newly elected officials under the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan and some prominent leaders in politics and business attended the oathtaking in a restaurant in Lahug, Cebu City. (PDF)