Wednesday, November 21, 2007 Tom flattered by plan’s adoption for Vis-Min
EVEN if politicians use it for politicking, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he is flattered that Sen. Mar Roxas and other mayors will be implementing his concept on planning in the Visayas-Mindanao area.
Osmeña said he was discussing with Roxas and Davao City Rodrigo Duterte last Sunday the modules on the consultations that he is using in the city. The officials then said they will do the same.
As basis for policy making and setting the agenda for the City Government’s 10-year plan, the mayor is currently holding consultations with 11 sectors. The consultations will culminate in a plenary next month.
“I was explaining it to them and they now want to adopt it and I said why not?
This is not a secret and I’m happy they will do it... There’s just a general sense of frustration among those present and they asked, where do we go from here?
How do we move ahead?” he said.
Osmeña was in Davao City with Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes when the concept was discussed.
In his news conference yesterday, he admitted doing the consultations for political purposes, “but it is good politics.”
“Is it political? Yes, it’s the best kind of politics because we have created a mechanism where politicians go to the people and we listen. I am flattered that others want to adopt it because this is good politics. You want to play politics?
This is how you do it, listen to the people’s agenda,” Osmeña continued.
He explained that consulting the different sectors makes good politics because it results in a shift from personality-centered politics to one that is responsive to the people’s concerns.
Last Sunday, Roxas’ office sent a press release saying that he will be working with several mayors on coming up with a checklist on what Visayas and Mindanao constituents need from the National Government.
When asked if the agenda will be used for the politicians’ plans for the 2010 elections, the mayor said he does not mind if his project is used for such purpose.
Osmeña also said he will always be supportive of Roxas, one of the possible candidates for the presidency in 2010.
“So this (consultation) is going to be his way of campaigning... I’ve always supported Sen. Roxas but I’m also close to other candidates. He’s a decent person, he’s highly respected and he really tries to learn,” said the mayor. (LCR)
