Saturday, October 11, 2008 Editorials: Test for Rama, councilors
CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has gone on a one-month leave that, in his own words, could be extended or shortened depending on the result of medical tests and the recommended treatment for his illness.
While much has been said about recent advances in technology and of the world having been reduced to a village, distance is still distance and the term “village” is nothing but virtual reality.
The mayor may get reports about city developments from his moles and former drinking partners, read reports posted on the internet and even conduct online conferences with Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) members, but he still could not duplicate the intimacy of being here.
Besides, monitoring happenings in the city and the actuation of BO-PK officials are but secondary to his main purpose of going to the United States, which is to undergo further medical tests on the tumor in his bladder and then get the needed treatment.
Independence
That means Acting Mayor Michael Rama and members of the City Council are largely on their own in the next month or so, which is somewhat of a test for them considering the long years of being overly dependent on Osmeña.
The test would involve two aspects: their loyalty to their boss and their loyalty to the public---things that are at times mutually exclusive.
Following an independent path was not as much a focus when Osmeña was around unlike now when he is in the US and unable to closely track the daily activities of his people.
This is truer for Rama, who has long tried to project an image of independence from the mayor amidst perceptions that the City Council he is heading is nothing more than Osmeña’s stamp pad.
Internship
In a way, this is also a chance for the public to observe how Rama will run the city without the looming presence of Osmeña---something that would be a big factor in the voting in the 2010 elections if he really runs for mayor.
The unity of the BO-PK, meanwhile, will be subjected to a test especially if Rama starts veering away from whatever instructions Osmeña left before he went to the US or once he contradicts some of the mayor’s old policies.
Chances are more BO-PK members for now are loyal to Osmeña than to Rama.
