SOME residents of Cebu are expecting Mayor Michael Rama to handle Cebu City better than before, with more attention given to the city’s traffic and illegal drug problems, among other issues.
Rama took his oath of office on Thursday, June 30, after he was elected mayor in the May 9, 2022 elections.
In his inaugural speech on June 30 at Plaza Sugbo, Rama said he plans to finish the long-awaited bus rapid transit (BRT) system in order to offer mass transportation to the city's rising workforce. He said he will also commence studies on light railway system, monorail system, and cable cars in his three years in office as mayor.
Resident Eddie Estur, 63, told SunStar Cebu in an interview on Thursday that he expects Rama to push for “competent governance” with focus on addressing current issues being experienced by Cebuanos.
"Nag-expect ko sa karon nga administrasyon ni Rama nga maayo ang iyahang pagdumala sa siyudad, ilabi na nga mapansin usab ang atong problema sa traffic," he said.
He added that with the ongoing increase in fuel prices, Rama has to address the situation, stressing it directly affects the prices of commodities in the market.
"Unta mapaningkamutan nga ma-ubos kining mga presyo sa mga palitunon kay grabe na kaayo ka mahal. Gisakitan na gyud ang mga taw ana," Estur said.
Daphne Gallardo, 18, said she expects this new term of Rama as city mayor to be better than before.
"I expect him to handle it better, unlike last year with the Covid-19 pandemic and Typhoon Odette onslaught. Also, to give importance gud especially na sa mga Carbon Market workers and improvements sa pag cope sa pandemic," she said.
She said the administration must prioritize solving poverty, lack of education, and drug abuse.
"Feel nako drugs sya kay very rampant jud ang cases. I think it is also because of the lack of education, wala kaayu nahatagan og attention," she added.
Bernard Catubig, 51, shared Gallardo's views on the current drug problem, but he also expects Rama’s administration to also solve corruption.
"Number one nako nga gi expect ani nga administration, ang pagsugpo sa droga. Sunod, ang ma address niya ang isyu sa cybercrime. And then, ang mapangitaan niya ug solution ang kining mga taw nga naa lang perme sa kalsada, ang mga street people," he said.
Ram said earlier that he will remain true to his promises, as he said he will intensify the communication and coordination with barangays in the city to address the city’s issues and improve the delivery of service down to the sitio level. (Irish Delima, CNU intern)