Wednesday, September 24, 2008 Jonas, Carlo patch up differences
OFFICIALS of the Mandaue City Government announced yesterday that they already patched up their political differences after meeting with Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia.
However, Vice Mayor Carlo Fortuna said that the legislative branch will continue monitoring transparency in the government “despite the fact that they already smoked the peace pipe.”
Fortuna said that the legislative and executive branches will be dealing several issues besetting the City in a more “constructive and professional manner” so as not to disrupt the delivery of basic services.
“We assure the public, though, that the issues will not affect the delivery of basic services to our constituents,” Fortuna told Capitol reporters after their closed-door meeting with the governor and Mayor Jonas Cortes.
The vice mayor said that they will resolve their political differences “professionally minus inflammatory statements.”
Fortuna said that they agreed to prioritize the peace and order in the city, which recently caught media mileage after a city police official reported that crime rate in the city has increased by about 14 percent.
Governor Garcia recently offered mediation after hearing then Mandaue City Police Office chief Rodel Calungsud’s report that the city’s crime rate increased by about 14 percent from January to August this year, compared to figures from the same period last year.
Mayor Cortes said they agreed to patch up their differences for the sake of their constituents.
Cortes admitted that political bickering in the City somehow hampered the delivery of basic services.
He said that they will set aside their political differences and instead work for the welfare of the majority.
Cortes said that being elected officials is not just a privilege but a commitment to hard work and service.
For her part, Garcia thanked the city officials for abiding by their earlier agreement not to issue “inflammatory statements” to the media and focus on their jobs.
Garcia said that elected officials are expected to perform their duties and responsibilities and deliver satisfactory performance to their constituents by setting aside their political differences.
The governor said she met the officials before flying to Russia for a siste city pact with Vladimir City in Russia and to promote Cebu in the international market.
She left Cebu yesterday afternoon for her Russia visit slated Sept.24 to Oct.1. She will be accompanied by representatives of the Mandaue and Cebu Chamber of Commerce and the Philippine Embassy in Moscow. (GMD)
