STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

(Delivered during the Inaugural Session of the 13 th Sangguniang Panlungsod)

July 2, 2014
By: Hon. Michael Lopez Rama
Mayor
Honourable Vice-Mayor, Edgardo C. Labella, Ladies and Gentlemen of the 13 th
Sangguniang Panlungsod, city government officials and employees, Dept. Heads &
Chief of Offices, Brgy. Captains, Sr. Citizens distinguished guests, members of the
media, friends, ladies and gentlemen, good morning!
At the outset, I would like to thank the Sanggunian Panlungsod for inviting me to this
inaugural session. It has been about a year and one day ago today when all of us, me
included, have been elected into office: YOU as members of the 13 th Sanggunian and
ME, as your Mayor. By tradition and as our way of putting flesh to the word
transparency and accountability in public service, we need to show and convey to our
people, our avowed masters, the affairs of our city under our watch. Now, at the onset of
the 2nd year in office of the members of the 13 th Sanggunian Panlungsod, it is my honor
and privilege to report to this August Body and to the people of Cebu City whom you
represent, the state of the Citys affair after another year of service.
To recall, during the last years Inaugural Address that I delivered before this August
Body, I assured all of you that our journey OUR VOYAGE - towards genuine public
service and meaningful development is safe and secure because City Hall is
SEAWORTHY. I dared everyone, then, to join me in that voyage as we steer the city
with a policy direction that is People-Privately Driven Governance guided always by our
mantra, Tul-iron ang Hiwi, Nindoton ang Bati, Limpyohon ang Hugaw,
Wagtangon ang Baho ug Han-ayon ang Gubot. We were proven right in our belief
then that, indeed, public-private partnership not only works wonders; more importantly, it
spreads the burden of service and governance to many stakeholders, who we refer to in
our Spider Web Approach Illustration as the Action Teams.
As emphasized, the present three year term is not only dedicated to completing the
programs and projects in the previous term but also on governance that directly benefits
our constituents.
We have promised to continue the works we have previously started, guided by our
Vision of making Cebu City a livable and sustainable community with a dynamic,
healthy, productive and active constituency playing a vital role in managing our
resources with the end in view of achieving our mission of bringing back the hope of the
youth and the children to trust government. Our efforts are still based on our platform of
governance which is SEE D BIG 3Ps with particular focus on the following projects,
programs and policy directions:

Drainage and 3- meter easement along the riverbanks. Towards that direction we have
activated the ReDZ or Reduce Danger Zones, expanding its mandate towards the
management of rivers. We have implemented Php 250 Million worth of drainage
projects spanning around 7,000 linear meters of drainage lines, along with those
implemented by DPWH.
On Disaster Preparedness, we took particular focus on the re-blocking and widening of
interior roads. These, we were able to accomplish in Barangays T. Padilla, Bato-Ermita,
Carreta and Tejero, transforming these places from a place of chaos to a haven of
order. Moreover, the monstrous fire that hit Barangay Lorega confronted us with the
gargantuan challenge but for a noble purpose, the task of rebuilding the dreams of the
hundreds of victims.
Productive Use of CitiCenter lot, Block 27 and the city property near IT Park. The
structure at CitiCenter is being demolished to pave way for a housing project. Block 27
is due for sale should the council authorize us to do so, for which I am optimistic they
will. Some real properties were sold in the past, and saw that these all proved
beneficial to the city. I dont see any reason why we cannot be allowed to endeavor to
dispose some more.
Asphalting and Cementing of roads. - We have been true to our commitment to continue
the asphalting and concreting of our city and farm to market roads. To date we were
able to asphalt around 40,665 lineal meters and concreted around 33,215 lineal meters
of roads amounting to Php 183 Million and Php 265.72 Million, for asphalting and
concreting, respectively.
We also address the infrastructure needs of our barangays and department offices like
multi-purpose buildings, the most recent of which is the construction of the Office of the
City Civil Registrar Building.
Freedom Park, Warwick and Carbon Area as heritage sites. The Carbon Market Unit 2
reconstruction is moving after being stalled for more than a decade. The fire in Warwick
paved way to the initial development of the area. Soon, full development will be
undertaken together with the adjacent Freedom Park through a Joint Venture or Private
Public Partnership.
Development moving towards the mountains balanced with environmental preservation.
Access roads are being planned and studied to connect the city to other municipalities
via the routes passing through the mountain barangays.
Parallel to this, our City Agriculture Office also intensified its efforts in implementing
reforestation in the barangay roadside, communities and schools as well as in the
development of showcase areas on vegetables and livestock in 28 upland barangays in
coordination with the Cebu City Farmers Federation and the Cebu City Hillyland
Development Board. Through these efforts, we were able to initiate the holding of the
1st Cebu Agri-Bonanza participated by farmers in our upland barangays.

Legal actions against illegal structures along rivers and creeks. Our waterbed is
degrading. Our rivers and creeks are vital to the preservation and conservation of
potable water supply. We are serious in taking legal actions against owners of nuisance
structures who will not heed the call in restoring and protecting our rivers and creeks.
Through our committed lawyers and staffs in the legal office, who, for the record, have
won land mark cases for the City of Cebu such as the Rallos Case, the restoration and
protection of our rivers and creeks will definitely be a major legal agenda for this
administration.
Franchise Tax, real property tax and taxes due from hospitals. Taxes are the lifeblood of
government in the delivery of basic service in line with the maxim Salus Populi est
Suprema Lex (The welfare of the people is the supreme law).
The City Assessors Office had made a no-nonsense valuation of the real properties and
had come up with an assessment of Php 29 Billion Taxable Assessed Value of taxable
real properties in Cebu City. This would easily translate to around Php 870 Million in
realty taxes if collected properly.
As we are now able to determine the Citys worth and potential, the City Treasurers
Office likewise embarked on an aggressive tax collection effort. This we did without
necessarily increasing the tax rates. As doomsayers started painting a bleak picture on
our financial status, saying that we will default in paying our loan obligations for SRP,
the City Treasurers Office immediately debunked the myth by paying out our obligations
on time along with the other payables, including benefits due to the employees.
Housing Program for our employees. - The employees themselves have been our
partners to this end as they themselves have formed into a Housing Cooperative which
is believed to be the only one recognized under the new law. This administration gives
full support to this endeavor by providing available lots for housing which includes
among others the Sugbo Homes and Citicenter property.
Open Communication for public opinion. - We have established the City Hall Radio
Program every morning over DYLA. LCD TV is provided to report to the public updates
on the initiatives of the city. A system of constant dialogue has been in place to resolve
concerns of some sectors like the jeepney drivers during strikes, victims of fires and
calamities and homeowner concerns, among others. We have set multi-sectoral task
groups to respond to the problems brought about by the El Nino phenomenon, which we
call Task Force KINABUHI, as well as for the CCMC re-building, dubbed as the Piso
mo, Hospital Ko endeavor. We always believed that a well informed and actively
involved people make up a good constituency.
We have continuously motivated and ensured among our employees to deliver quick
and quality service. Trainings and continuous learning education are being provided.
We are happy to note that every Monday morning during the Flag Raising Ceremony,
majority, if not all of our employees are present to pledge allegiance to the flag and

swear to become honest public servants. That is the foundation of nationalism and
patriotism.
We are happy to report that our frontline units have institutionalized the Program City
Hall at Your Doorstep.
We likewise established the City Hall satellite office at Barangay Taptap, dubbed as
City Hall sa Bukid where we try to bring our services to the mountain barangays. Of
particular mention is the service provided by the Office of the Civil Registrar such as but
not limited to requests of NSO birth certificates and late registrations. The City Hall sa
Bukid concept brought not only convenience to the upland barangay constituents but
also resulted in some savings in their transportation expense in going to the city for the
same transaction.
Still, we will continue to cleanse our ranks from the lazy, the incompetent, the corrupt,
the litterbugs and the intrigue-mongers. Those who have been found positive of
prohibited drugs are out. We have to maintain the trust of the people in our public office.
On one hand, we will not fail to give incentives. But, benefits and bonus are to be given
quid pro quo, that is, employees should earn and work for it. I have always said,
Tabaho... Trabaho... Trabaho. Menosan ang Politika! Serbisyo Serbisyo.
Serbisyo, Dili Perhuwisyo, Labi na nga Dili Sagulan ug Negosyo.
We are working on the productivity of SRP. We are getting proposals for a retirement
village and for hotels. The road infrastructure and utilities has to be completed and
transportation system has to be in place for the inevitable operation of SM and Filinvest
this year or early next year. Other developments on the pipeline are the Japanese
Retirement Facility, the Kawit Area Development proposed by a Middle East real estate
developer as well as the Commercial Township Development on the 26 hectares San
Pedro Calungsod Templete Site.
We have institutionalized the efficient and effective delivery of financial aid to senior
citizens and PWDs, Solo Parents and Children in Conflict with Law, continuously
updating and profiling our list of the said beneficiaries. Likewise, the giving of relief and
financial assistance during calamities is done quickly within 2-3 days by our DSWS staff
who worked tirelessly and unceasingly during those times when disaster response is
needed. We commit to continue providing our senior citizens and PWDs with financial
incentives particularly during Christmas.
Livelihood among our constituency is likewise a major concern. Your mayor is not
remiss on this aspect having initiated the first ever job fair which has now been
institutionalized through our programs at Department of Manpower Development and
Placement. Sa buhatan sa DMDP, padayon ang paghatag sa:
D DUGANG
M MAKAT-ONAN
D DISENTENG
P PANGINABUHIAN
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Because of our continuing efforts to hold job placement

activities, the City of Cebu
is recently awarded the 2013 Regional Best PESO Highly Urbanized Category.
The city will initiate activities and interventions for the families of Overseas Filipino
Workers.
Health is and will always be a primordial concern of this administration. Despite our
debacle due to the 7.2 magnitude earthquake that hit us last year, our very own Cebu
City Medical Center, the Peoples Hospital, in particular, did not stop in circulation but
continued with its operation delivering the same quality health care services to all city
constituents. Despite its limitations, CCMC still caters to the same number of OPD
patients and emergency cases.
During these trying times for our CCMC, the City Health Department also did its share
of providing primary health care to our constituency, thereby reducing the number of
admissions to the CCMC. In particular, normal birth deliveries and treatment of minor
illnesses are now being accommodated at our vastly improved and PhilHealth
accredited health centers in the barangays. Disease prevention is also a prime concern
of our City Health Department, thus, they embark on a program of massive Flu and
Pneumonia Vaccination for our elderly and senior citizens. Efforts in addressing Issues
on HIV AIDS shall be continually pursued since this will affect the future of children.
On the matter of safe food consumption, our DVMF strengthened its meat and fish
inspection services to ensure our constituency that meat and fish sold in our markets
are safe. Likewise, spay and neuter programs and free vaccinations are being
continued without let-up thereby lessening the number of unwanted stray animals and
the incidence of rabies cases.
Peace and Order in our city is relatively fair. Thank God and the Peace & Order
Coordinating Council (PCAC) we havent experienced incidents of very serious crimes
like those in other areas of the country. We are continuously running after indecency
through CAIB. We are working with the police on reducing petty crimes arising from
drugs and drunkenness and against illegal gambling. We shall take a positive and proactive stance on the crimes recorded in the City. While the statistics may not be
something to cheer about, on a positive note, it also means that incidents are reported
because people come to trust the city police force.
Water remains a great concern in the city. There is an emphasis on this for we know
that water is life. Efforts to address the need for adequate water supply are undertaken
with the support of MCWD. Further, the Septage Management and river clean-up are
spearheaded by MCWD to address the issue of water contamination. With CCENRO
spearheading the Solid Waste Management efforts, we have launched recently the pilot
Septage facility at the North Reclamation Area in partnership with a firm from Yokohama
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and JICA. The septage treatment facility, which costs around Php 15 million, can
process 100 cubic meters of Septic Waste per hour. The septage facility project comes
with the provision of brand new dumptruck. A plastic shredder equipment has been
installed at Inayawan landfill for the plastic waste-to-energy facility which could bring in
millions in investments (Mansie 13 Million). In addition to the aforementioned support
from the City of Yokohama, another 10 garbage trucks will be forthcoming still with the
assistance of JICA.
Gubat Sa Basura and Solidwaste Management. - We are in an all-out war against
garbage, a war which our Department of Public Services took to the barangay level.
Compliance to the law, particularly the No Segregation, No Collection policy, is being
enforced through the no-nonsense campaign by BEO and CESET. Adverse reactions
are coming out, but dura lex sed lex the law may be harsh, but it is the law.
Education, Sports, Arts and Culture. The recent CVRAA event in Cebu City proved that
Cebu City is not only home of great athletes, it has also the best potentials to host and
hold well-organized sporting events. We have witnessed the flourishing of international
sports events like soccer being held in Cebu City. The K+12 system has to be seriously
looked into. Government should be proactive in order to avoid issues like losing ones
job as experienced among teachers in college and the lack of facilities in high school.
Government should take a paradigm shift in the utilization of the Special Education
Fund (SEF) in order to address the requirements of the K plus 12 particularly on hiring
more teachers.
Of course, let it not be forgotten that in all of our efforts for good governance and better
service to the constituency particularly during calamities, the General Services Office is
always there to lend support and assistance on a 24/7 basis by providing logistical and
transportation support services, among others.
As partners in governance, we will continue our programs on capability building for
barangay officials. I am constantly reminding our barangay captains to act as little
mayors in their respective barangays. It is my firm belief that a lot of problems at the
barangay level can be solved with fully capacitated barangay officials.
Looking Back at the Year 2013:
The year 2013 was a year of great calamities for us. We were confronted by one
calamity after another: a sea tragedy involving the collision of a passenger liner and an
oil tanker where many people perished; a 7.2 magnitude earthquake that gripped the
city and the neighboring islands in terror and left us in ruins, and a Super Typhoon that
ravaged not only our homes but also tested our will and our resolve. Despite it all, the
optimists that we are and the Christians that we ought to be, we can always look back at
2013 as a year when we were given the opportunity to rise above our own personal
agenda and to be generous to our neighbors who were hardly hit by those tragedies
particularly the Super Typhoon Yolanda. It was the year when we proved ourselves
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ready, willing and able to address calamities with quickness, presence of mind and
resolve, in a systematic and orderly manner.
Indeed, tragedies also provide for opportunities. Because of the earthquake in October
last year, everyone came and took their chance to give their share to rebuild the
peoples Hospital, the Cebu City Medical Center. Our effort to raise the needed funds
for its re-building is continuing and had shown great promise. I have told all of you then,
and I will tell you again now, I do not mind being labeled a professional beggar in the
annals of history. But for this noble cause, I will continue to beg, in my own way, to
anybody who cares, be he a person or be it an institution, in order to raise the needed
funds that will bring back the peoples hospital. For this, I thank again the 13 th
Sanggunian for heeding the clarion call by initially providing 300 million pesos for the
rebuilding of the peoples hospital. I do hope and pray that the initial amount is not to be
the last even as I am confident that it will not be. I would also thank Operation Smile,
PAGCOR & the rest for responding to our call for help.
Looking Forward:
This year, we learned the good news about the BRT project being approved for
implementation. We know that as we implement this BRT Project, we will also deal with
the APEC and International Eucharistic Congress. These are two of the many best
things that will happen to Cebu City and we need to be ready and pro-active on this.
Thus, our infrastructures particularly our road networks and road traffic systems had to
be in place. An estimated budget of P800 Million is needed for the rehabilitation of our
traffic system. CCTVs have been installed and our Command Center is fully operational
to address traffic monitoring and crime prevention.
In the previous term 2010 to 2013, a lot of things have been accomplished. I believe
that with our mantra of Together We Can Make Better Things Happen for Cebu City,
we are very certain that still we can do a lot more. The tasks ahead are numerous as
they are challenging but with the spirit of Voluntarism always within us, nothing is
impossible for it is said that no one should underestimate the heart of a
Volunteer. Thus, together we will strive to achieve the following:

Build the new peoples hospital.

Build homes for our employees.
Apportion land to the landless.
Continue our earnest efforts to resolve the 93-1 tenurial issue with the concrete
settlement plans we have agreed in principle with the province.
Build a childrens park at the site of the old Pasil Fish Market, thereby restoring
the heritage value of the San Nicolas Parish Church.
Establish a Magellans Park beside the Senior Citizens Park.
Complete the concreting of all farm-to-market roads.

Address the problem on the lack of emergency exits in our school buildings as a
manifestation of our sincere concern to the safety of our school children. For
this, we have allocated the amount of Php 22 million.
We can witness the realization of the third Mactan bridge. Our efforts are drawing
support from the Officials of the Municipality of Cordova and from the National
government and private sector, as well.
Beautify S. Osmena Boulevard transforming it as a scenic gateway from the port
and airport to the heritage sites of the city, thanks to SM, DPWH and the Parks
and Playground Commission of Cebu City.
Utilize fully the economic potentials of SRP and bail out the city from the SRP
loan that still stands at P3Billion even after more than ten (10) years of payment.
We will pursue concrete actions in bailing out the City from the current SRP
Loan.
Clean our rivers, creeks and coastline by implementing the 3 meter easement
and completing the seawall along our coastline barangays. Likewise, MCWD, in
agreement with the City Government, will spearhead a program to clean the
rivers, creeks and esteros and will actively be involved in the restoration of the 3
meters easement.

We will seriously restore and recover all sidewalks freeing them from obstructions to
give due space for pedestrians. MCWD will have to help by relocating water meters
from sidewalks.
We will address concerns on road traffic congestions and road safety measures through
an Executive Order that allocates u-turn slots, constructs flares on intersections, road
widening, and established no left turn policies, (especially in the Bantal area) and oneway or two-way streets (especially in Carbon Market).
We will transform the roads in Carbon Market into a vibrant Night Market Area where no
parking policy will be ad
opted in the evening.
By December of this year, we will endeavor to establish Communal toilets in sitios and
communities where they are needed particularly in the coastal areas.
We will establish a mortuary and parking building beside the San Nicolas gym for Suba,
Pasil and Sawang Calero so that wakes on the streets will be prohibited.
We can build and operate the BRT in a thorough manner with participation and
consultation of all concerned stakeholders.
We will continue to support the efforts of the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating
Board in the Mega Cebu 2050: Making W.A.V.E.S PROJECT or Wholesome, Advanced,
Vibrant, Equitable and Sustainable projects for Cebu. Our tangible contribution to the
Mega Cebu is the Memorandum of Understanding the City of Cebu had entered into
with Yokohama City, Japan with possible technical and financial assistance from Japan
International Cooperation Agency.
We will pursue the transfer of school sites for Barangays Sapangdaku and Busay due to
the danger posed to children.
We shall endeavor a grass root or bottoms up urban greening and edible landscaping.

We will allocate funds in the budget for police cars. In motivating our police force, we
look for funds not focusing on rewards to tipsters but for the awards of heroic policemen
performing under exceptional circumstances.
We have the proven track record of doing things as evidence by the awards and
recognitions being bestowed upon our City. To name a few, we have been a recipient of
Two (2) e-Governance Awards given by the National ICT Confederation of the
Philippines in coordination with the DILG. We were also ranked as among the Top 10
Cities in e-Readiness Leadership Awards given by ICTO-DOST, in coordination with
DILG, DTI and US-AID.
Together with all sectors and stakeholders: the academe, media, church, business,
NGOs, POs and civic groups, we shall continue to make the City of Cebu the Best in
our country and in Asia ably projecting it as a city of Culture, Exemplary Performance in
Local & E Governance, a Top Tourist Destination, the No. 1 Livable City in the
Philippines, a Top BPO destination, a Heritage City, the home of the Sinulog, the mother
of all Festivals and Buhing Kalbaryo including Pasko sa V. Rama, and so on and so
forth. All these will be achieved further through our peoples mutual undertaking with our
administrations advocacy of Barangayan, Bayanihan and Boluntarismo.
We shall work together with the ardent desire and focused objective to make the poors
lives to become better; for the middle class constituents to live and feel comfortable;
and for the rich, not to control.
We shall continue to show and deliver super service to our constituents. I, as your
mayor will not be deterred by some snags and adverse observations of other agencies
and institutions in the way we are managing and delivering our services to the people. I
challenge anyone, even as I can look them directly in the eye, and say to them in all
candor and humility, that your mayor is not tainted with any shreds of corruption. Our
Accounting Office and Budget Office along with our Internal Audit Office made sure that
matters regarding compliance of budget, accounting and auditing laws, rules, policies
and regulations are being done by the respective departments through constant review
of financial data of Offices as well as the operating systems and processes that are in
place.
With what is going on in our country and the seemingly misdirected approach of
agencies that are supposed to help rather than impair, to expedite rather than impede, I
now strongly consider to take a serious look on the need for constitutional change. I
believe this change can offer us better solutions to the woes and fundamental problems
that beset our nation be it economic or political.
Finally, I shall reiterate the stand that this administration shall remain as an
Administration of Us, A Government of We and not of You and I. As I had
repeatedly asked from all of you, particularly my beloved department heads, who I
always fondly refer to as the Wind Beneath my Wings: UKU ta - Usa ta. Kuyog ta.
Uban ta. Through our advocacy espoused under the framework of Bayanihan,
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Barangayan and Boluntarismo, together we shall continue our voyage towards better,
quick, quality service for a wholesome and balanced development for our city. Despite
the challenges that we had, City hall has remained seaworthy. I will continue to steer
this ship called City hall to greater and better horizons. With you the members of this
August Body and my beloved department heads manning all stations, we will surely
reach our charted destination, a destination that is charted for the people, by the people
and of the people.
Tungod kay Kamo, mga Katawhan, ang among AgalonKami ang inyong
Suluguon.
Thank you very much. Daghang Salamat ug Maayong Buntag Kanatong Tanan!!!
SEOR SANTO NIO, HAVE MERCY ON US! MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP,
PRAY FOR US! BIRHEN SA GUADALUPE, PRAY FOR US! SAN PEDRO
CALUNGSOD, PRAY FOR US!
--oOo--

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