WITH only 14 days left before the May 13 election, Barug PDP-Laban and Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) have already claimed victory during two separate Candidates’ Forums spearheaded by Mega Cebu at the University of San Carlos Monday, April 29.
Present during the morning forum with Barug PDP-Laban were Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella, who is running for mayor; former mayor Michael Rama, who is running for vice mayor; Councilor Joy Pesquera, who is running for south district representative; and actor Richard Yap, who is running for north district representative.
The forum with BOPK was held in the afternoon. Present were reelectionist Mayor Tomas Osmeña; Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos, who is running for vice mayor; and reelectionist North District Rep. Raul del Mar. Reelectionist South District Rep. Rodrigo Abellanosa did not attend.
Labella told the audience that if he becomes mayor, he will see to it that Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) will be fully functional and that it will have an exclusive ward for senior citizens.
“I will provide ambulances to our respective barangays. The bigger barangays will be provided with doctors, and the smaller ones will be clustered and will be provided with doctors,” he added.
A committee will also be created to study and recommend a permanent solution to the city’s water problem.
Rama, for his part, said he will push for mass transit, high-tech innovation, general welfare and empowerment of barangays.
On the other hand, Pesquera said she will file a bill in Congress that will add two districts to the city, citing the growing population.
“Right now, I have already prepared at least 15 House bills, which I will immediately file on July 1,” she said.
Yap said he will file bills that will require motorcycle drivers to undergo training on road rules and regulations, find an alternate treatment for cancer and a permanent solution to the water problem.
In the forum with BOPK candidates, Osmeña said he will apply political will to solve the water problem and ban profit-oriented companies from entering into business with the Metropolitan Cebu Water District.
The mayor said he will continue to push for the implementation of the Bus Rapid Transit system from Bulacao in the south to Talamban in the north to address traffic.
Del Mar, for his part, said he will refile House bills which were not passed by the House of Representatives and the Senate due to the lack of time, including the amendment of the charters of the Mactan-Cebu International Airport Authority and the Cebu Port Authority.
Del Mar hopes President Rodrigo Duterte, before the election, will sign into law his Magna Carta for the Poor, which Congress and the Senate already approved.
De los Santos said she will focus on legislative matters, but she will accept any assignment from Osmeña, including the beautification project.