Thursday, March 20, 2008 Find common ground: Guv to Jonas, Carlo
CEBU Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia asked Mandaue City officials to find a “common ground” to end the political bickering between the mayor and the City Council.
Although she was not able to meet the city officials in her office yesterday due to some important affairs, Garcia said she was able to talk with Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes and Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna last Tuesday night.
After their conversation over the phone, the governor described Fortuna and Cortes as “very decent individuals” who are both after the good of their constituents in the city.
But despite having different political affiliations, Garcia said she still asked them to find a common ground to serve their constituents well.
The governor stressed that there is a need to “build trust” among local leaders “for the benefit of the people.”
Garcia sent invitations to the city officials to come for a dialogue in her office amid the political squabble between the legislative and executive departments.
The governor did not categorically state the issues they will be tackling, but she said that important matters will be discussed.
The invitation came after the Mandaue City councilors threatened to file criminal and administrative complaints, as well as a civil suit, against Mayor Cortes for ordering city officials to disregard an approved ordinance.
The conflict stemmed from Cortes’ order to city finance officials to pay around 1,300 job-order employees, who had not received their pay since January this year.
Before the mayor’s order, the disbursing officials were allegedly told to wait for the enabling resolution—as required by Section 2 of the budget ordinance—and this delayed the job-order employees’ pay.
The governor clarified that she decided to intervene upon the challenge of the local media asking her to help patch up the conflict between the legislative and executive branches in Mandaue City.
Thus, Garcia said that she opted to intervene even if her critics said that she was merely politicking.
“Politics is farthest from my mind. I am the most apolitical person right now because that’s what is needed,” she said.
She added that it will be improper to lay down political plans when the 2010 presidential elections is still about two years away.
“I would be remiss in my duty as the mother of this Province if I will not try to reach out to both them. If I do not succeed, at least I tried,” Garcia said.
The governor said she will be glad if the two city officials will work together “because that is not for my good but for the good of the Mandauehanons.” (GMD)
