Team Rama to visit villages, take on fiscalizer stance

DESPITE losing majority rule in the Cebu City Council, councilors allied with Team Rama vowed to expand their presence through visits and consultations in the barangays.

“We will continue to be active fiscalizers in the council,” said Councilor James Anthony Cuenco.

Cuenco resigned as majority floor leader to signify Team Rama’s move to yield majority control to councilors aligned with the Bando Osmeñ–Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK) bloc last Tuesday.

Cuenco was replaced by Councilor Margarita Osmeña as the new majority floor leader.

Team Rama councilors vacated all posts in the council ahead of the BO-PK takeover starting July 4 when the council holds its inaugural session.

“We have have been and will continue to call out the wrongs this administration has done and support the right it will do,” said Councilor Garcia, who used to chair the committee on laws.

Councilor Jose Daluz III, who used to head the committees on housing and social services, said they will now focus on being fiscalizers in the council.

“We support when we find it beneficial to the city. We fight and fight hard for things that we find political rather than public service. We will be a loud voice so that people will be appraised of what is going on in the city,” Daluz said.

Councilor Joel Garganera, who used to hold the committees on environment, transportation and utilities, said they will also continue to perform their legislative functions by extensively going through proposals from the majority bloc.

Asked for his message to the BO-PK councilors, Garganera said he hopes they will do things for the constituents.

“Be mindful that we are serving the Cebuanos and not just the mayor,” he said.

Team Rama lost the majority after Councilor Jerry Guardo bolted the group to join BO-PK last March.

Councilors in the BO-PK see a smoother implementation of plans and programs of Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

“Hopefully, the agenda of the executive department will not be delayed anymore. We will really push for the agenda of the executive, and we will not have it delayed anymore,” Councilor Joy Augustus Young said.

Young said they expect a “more responsive” budget for the city government next year. Councilor Mary Ann de los Santos said the BO-PK bloc will not become a mere “rubber stamp” of the mayor.

“We will continue our mandate to enact ordinances and pass resolutions with better judgment as our only guide and the public welfare as our ultimate goal,” she said.

Councilor Sisinio Andales, who used to head the committee on laws during the previous council, said legislative work will become more efficient with the BO-PK as majority.