Thursday, February 19, 2004
Mayor cancels 2 Charter Day TV specials
By Linette C. Ramos
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña cancelled the airing of two television programs that will feature him and the City Government, saying he doesn’t want people to make it an issue.
Osmeña said the City will just hold a free concert for the City Hall employees and provide them with packed meals for the 67th Charter Day celebration on Feb. 24.
Since he did not authorize the payment of P1.7 million worth of airtime that City Hall owes seven media outlets during the Garcia administration, the mayor said he wanted to avoid a similar issue.
The City Council was supposed to deliberate on two resolutions authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with ABS-CBN to produce and air variety shows where the Cebu City Government will be featured.
But before the council could deliberate on the P130,000 deal yesterday, Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera withdrew both resolutions.
“It will not be aired anymore, it’s cancelled, the mayor told a news conference. “I’m canceling the whole show… They are making an issue out of it. Besides, it wasn’t my intention to have it.”
He is also willing to pay ABS-CBN for the production cost using his own money.
A segment of the program that featured the mayor and Vice Mayor Michael Rama were already taped last Monday.
Cebu City and its officials were to be featured in two ABS-CBN weekend variety shows, “Sabado na Gyud, Ngiga Gud!” and “Chikahay Ta.”
The City was to pay P110,000 for airtime for the two shows and P20,000 more for the production cost.
The awardees for the 67th Charter Day were also to be given their awards during the show.
The mayor reiterated that it was not his idea that he would be featured in the program and that what he wanted was only an entertainment show that the Cebu City constituents can watch.
The Apo Hiking Society concert, which was to be sponsored by Globe Telecommunications, was also cancelled.
Instead, City Hall employees will be treated to a concert of local entertainers at the Cebu Coliseum on Feb. 24.
(February 19, 2004 issue)
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