GARBAGE collection, flooding and indiscriminate parking were among the concerns that an organization of Filipino-Chinese businessmen raised before Cebu City Mayor Edgardo Labella on Friday, Aug. 9, 2019.

But they also expressed support for him and said that he only needed to tap their help.

Speaking for the first time before the Cebu Filipino-Chinese Chamber of Commerce (CFCCC), Labella encouraged the businessmen to give him suggestions on how to address the pressing concerns, saying he cannot solve the problems by himself.

The CFCCC had invited Labella to its regular meeting, which was highly attended by the members.

Concerns, responses

Labella made a PowerPoint presentation of his action plan, which covers concerns such as business environment, police support, garbage, drainage, education and infrastructure.

On drainage and flooding solutions, the mayor said a comprehensive drainage plan will be drafted to address not just the problem in Cebu City but in its adjacent cities as well.

Since this will take time, an immediate solution is massive dredging and desilting of rivers and other waterways, he said. This is being done, he added.

On garbage collection, the City Council has passed a supplemental budget to be able to hire a private garbage hauling company, he said.

Another concern the CFCCC raised was the rampant indiscriminate parking. Although the CFCCC did not have an official declaration, some of its members expressed support for a bill that prohibits a person from buying a vehicle without a garage to park it.

Labella acknowledged that “parking has become a social problem.” He let the CFCCC in on his plan to build five four-storey tenement buildings in Barangay Lorega.

A land developer from a Manila federation of Chinese businessmen, who was present in the meeting, offered to help Labella realize his tenement plan.

Labella, a former government ombudsman, also promised the Filipino-Chinese businessmen that he will treat them with

fairness.

He expects them to follow the law, and “I will never be biased for or against a businessman.” He described his governance as “ego-less” and said he is not one who is “vindictive, arrogant and egotistic.” He expressed humility that they should not expect him to solve the problems of the city, and said that he is soliciting suggestions for solutions from them.

CFCCC support

“We are all civic-minded people. We will help you,” Francisco Benedicto, CFCCC president and a retired ambassador, said at the close of the meeting with Labella.

“Cebu City is lucky to have you as mayor,” Benedicto said.

Labella told them some of the business-related measures his administration is pushing, such as: the business permit renewal be done every two years, tax payment be coursed through banks, building permits be released with expediency, business permits be released within 24 hours on condition that the applicant complies with regulatory requirements within 60 days, and putting up a one-stop shop for transactions within Cebu City.