CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has approved the request of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to use the Plaza Independencia on Sunday, February 24, as President Rodrigo Duterte leads the campaign sortie of his political group.
With this development, the City Government has decided to move the distribution of 6,000 sacks of rice to habal-habal drivers to Saturday, Feb. 23, still at the Plaza Independencia.
“We will postpone the rice distribution,” Osmeña told SunStar Cebu in a text message when asked about the conflict of schedule between the City’s event and the PDP-Laban.
In a separate interview, Councilor Margarita “Margot” Osmeña said the mayor is giving way to the president who is coming to Cebu on Sunday, Feb. 24 for the political activity.
“PDP-Laban can use Plaza Independencia on the 24th for their rally. Supposedly, the City Government will use the plaza as the venue for the rice distribution to the habal-habal drivers, which was announced earlier. Due to the conflict of schedule, the mayor decided to move the distribution,” she said.
Despite the approval from the mayor, Councilor Margot said the organizers will still have to pay for the usage and other fees for the use of Plaza Independencia.
In the absence of the approval from the Sangguniang Panlungsod for the usage of the public park, other fees will be collected from the organizers as mandated under Ordinance No. 2330.
The fees will be used for the maintenance of the Plaza Independencia.
Councilor Raymond Garcia of Partido Barug, a local political party allied with PDP- Laban said they are happy with the development.
Garcia said that around 80,000 supporters are expected to troop to Plaza Independenci on Sunday, Feb. 24, for the event.
“This is not just Cebu City. The activity will include the Cebu Province, which means that more people are coming. During the event, the president is expected to introduce the group’s senatorial bets,” he said.