Tomas gives way to Duterte

CEBU City Mayor Tomas Osmeña has approved the request of Partido Demokratiko Pilipino–Lakas ng Bayan (PDP-Laban) to use Plaza Independencia on Sunday, Feb. 24, as President Rodrigo Duterte leads the campaign sortie of his political group.

With the development, the City Government has decided to move up the distribution of 6,000 sacks of rice to habal-habal (motorcycle-for-hire) drivers to this Saturday, Feb. 23, at Plaza Independencia.

This was Osmeña’s decision amid the conflict of schedule between the City’s event and the PDP-Laban’s event.

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 for its rice distribution for the habal-habal drivers, which was announced and scheduled earlier. Due to this conflict of schedule, the mayor decided to move the distribution,” she said in an interview.

Despite the approval from the mayor, Councilor Osmeña said the organizers will still have to pay the usage and other fees for the use of Plaza Independencia.

In the absence of the approval from the City Council for the usage of the public park, usage and other fees will be collected from the organizers as mandated under Ordinance 2330. Fees for the use of Plaza Independencia will be used for its maintenance.

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 Independencia on Sunday for the event.

“This is not just Cebu City. The activity will include 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.

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