Private sector to the rescue

Saturday, February 11, 2012

SOME members of the private sector will shoulder P6 million of the P10-million budget for Cebu City’s 75th Charter Day celebration.

Their action was in adherence to the private-public partnership thrust of Mayor Michael Rama, said Belinda Navascues, the mayor’s secretary.

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The amount the City will be spending (P4 million) will cover weeklong activities like the search for the 75 clans that have contributed to Cebu City’s growth and made it what it is today, she said.

Based on the criteria, the clans must be residents of the city with at least three members who have contributed to development, or have given honor to the city in the fields of governance and community service, business and industry, profession, sports, media and the arts, religion and apostolic works, environment and science and technology.

Recognizing contributions

The 75 clans, Navascues said, will be featured in photo exhibits in different malls in the city.

Each month, starting on Feb. 24 until Feb. 24 in 2013, seven families will be featured in the photo exhibits.

Aside from this, Navascues said the 75 clans will be featured in memorial lectures in different colleges and universities, where their contributions will be showcased.

Lectures will be conducted every third Monday of each month, she said.

The private sector will also host a testimonial dinner for the 75 clans and organize a reunion for them.

Navascues said members of the 75 clans will also go on a local tour with the private sector picking up the tab.

Welcome development

After the celebrations are over, Navascues said a coffee table book will be publish that will feature the 75 clans.

“It is but fitting to recognize and give tribute to the families who have contributed to what Cebu City is now, considering that we are celebrating a milestone of the city,” she said.

Asked what the private sector will get in return for the generosity, Navascues said they will get none, as their commitment to help the City is in line with their corporate social responsibility.

Their help is a welcome development for the City, considering that the City Council earlier questioned the P10-million budget for the Charter Day.

The council said the amount is “too huge” and “inappropriate.”

Meanwhile, Mayor Rama said 5,000 employees of City Hall will get a Charter Day bonus.

However, the amount has yet to be determined.

He said he has already instructed the local finance committee to look at the City’s savings from last year.