Lawyer hits City’s workout plan

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

A LAWYER criticized the plan of the Cebu City Government to use taxpayers’ money for workout sessions in the gym of elected officials instead of extending this to provide essential services and helping displaced “environmental refugees.”

“Please consider the legality and morality of your action,” said Gloria Estenzo-Ramos in a letter addressed to Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama, Vice Mayor Joy Young and the Cebu City Council.

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“The workout in the gym might be a privilege that corporations do give to employees.

For a local government unit in a developing country like ours, however, every centavo is needed to deliver the essential services to our people and in helping our growing number of displaced environmental refugees,” she added.

Ramos, a Philippine Earth Justice Center Inc. co-founder and a University of Cebu law professor, was referring to the City Council resolution authorizing Rama to sign a contract with the Cebu Holiday Gym and Spa for the annual membership of the 20 city officials, amounting to P360,000.

Cebu City Councilor Jose Daluz III defended the proposal, saying the amount is reasonable.

Daluz said it is only right that the City Government invests P360,000 in the health of elected city officials, including the mayor, vice mayor and the councilors.

He said just as the City invests on the health of its employees and constituents, it should also ensure that “officials have sound mind and body.”

If it can spend P5 million a year for the City Hall Olympics and P30 to P50 million a year for the sports program of the barangays, the City can also spend P360,000 for
the health program of the officials, he said.

“I think it’s also necessary to invest in the health of the officials. This is a mentally draining job because we craft policies and plan the future of the City, kinahanglan sad tingali ni namo (maybe we also need this) to be fit. I hope the people will also understand that it’s not too much. I believe it’s a reasonable expense,” Daluz said.

But Ramos said the proposal might be misconstrued as “thoughtless extravagance” at a time of “acute public want.”

“Is it so difficult to shell out P18,000 from your own pocket?” said Ramos.

“As our public officials, you know and realize how poor your constituents are,” she said.

“The P360,000 that will be spent for your workout will go a long way in providing school supplies for the children, maintain shelters and even protective gears for the garbage collectors, among so many others,” she added.

Ramos challenged the city officials to set an example for the youth by biking and walking in the city streets as a form of exercise.

She said that by doing so they would have a chance to see the state of the streets and sidewalks in the city and to “hopefully act to ensure public safety and comfort.”

The workout package includes use of the fitness gym, boxing gym, swimming pool, jogging track, and sauna, among others.