Thursday, June 19, 2008 Espinoza: Radaza and the Mactan chamber By Elias L. Espinoza Free Zone
MAYOR Arturo Radaza should accept the invitation of the Mactan Island Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI) to a dialogue to foster better relations with the business sector and for the good of the city.
He should remember that businessman Efrain Pelaez Jr., who filed graft charges against him before the Ombudsman, maybe the president of MICCI but he is not the MICCI.
MICCI vice president Oscar Canton clarified that Pelaez’s criticisms of City Hall for alleged corruption were done on his own and not in his capacity as MICCI president. Lawyer Amay Ong Vaño added that the chamber was not organized to criticize or attack city officials. It recognizes the need for cooperation with the City Government.
MICCI launched the Mactan Development Forum, which is aimed at providing a venue for dialogue between the business community and government. Unfortunately, according to a report, city officials have not responded to MCCI’s invitation.
The chamber has prepared a 10-point plan for Mactan’s development that the City Government should give an unbiased look. The mayor, who is also into business, should not rely on Lapu-Lapu’s current status as a highly urbanized city. The City Government still needs the business sector to improve its economy.
The issues that MICCI raised against the city, like poor street lighting, bad roads and problematic sanitation, are basic and they are valid. City officials should consider these as unsolicited advice.
I know that ego was hurt after graft charges were filed against city officials with the Ombudsman. But they should not forget that, as elected or appointed officials, they are subject to public scrutiny.
If city officials have not violated any of our statutes, then truth will set them free.
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Before the 2010 elections, Lapu-Lapu City would already have become the seventh congressional district of Cebu. This is great news for congressional wannabes of that island-city.
Second District Rep. Pablo Garcia revealed that House Bill 1306, which is authored by Sixth District Rep. Nerissa Soon-Ruiz, has been approved by the committee on local government. Garcia thinks that the seventh congressional district of Cebu will be created within the year.
I can imagine lawyers Ven Maceren, Doming Amores and others with political inclination grinning from ear to ear over this development. There is no truth to the rumor though that Maceren has started campaigning.
Cordova Mayor Adelino Sitoy was not happy with the development. He criticized the bill as “politically immoral and proof of incompetence.” For him, Mandaue City deserves that distinction of being a congressional district.
Mayor Sitoy may have been driven by personal interest when he criticized HB 1306, but he has a legal point. Under this bill Cordova, Consolacion and Mandaue City will remain as the sixth congressional district.
Aside from the Lapuhanons, there’s only one guy I know who is elated with this development: Mayor Tomas Osmeña. He has long wanted to make Cordova a district of Cebu City.
Rep. Tony Cuenco’s refusal to heed the request of Osmeña to sponsor a bill making Cordova the third congressional district caused a gap in their friendship. The mayor refused to accept Cuenco’s legal arguments.
Mayor Tomas’ intention to annex Cordova to Cebu City has nothing to do with politics. He sets his sights on the reclamation of Cordova’s reef, which according to the plan will be developed into an international seaport and a Casino.
