City Hall has new ‘mayor’ starting Thursday

STARTING this Thursday (Aug. 30), there will be “another mayor” who will be sitting on the chair occupied by Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña.

His name is Neil John Ashley Flores, and he was elected as this year’s Little Mayor from the pool of 45 student-leaders from public and private schools in Cebu City.

Flores’ assumption in the Office of the Mayor this Thursday is part of the city government’s “Know Your City Government” program.

The 18-year-old Little Mayor, a Grade 12 student of Talamban National High School, is also expected to greet guests and talk with other city officials during his stint at Cebu City Hall.

“I did not expect to be the Little Mayor. Because I was up against another bet who is from a prominent, private university. But then I am very humbled and privileged for other student leaders to elect me,” said Flores.

He also said he wants to pass the knowledge he will gain from his experience as the Little Mayor to the student council in his school.

“The supreme student government is modelled after the city government. So what learnings I made as I assume with Mayor Tommy as the Little Mayor, I hope I can apply it to our council as well,” Flores added.

Aside from the Little Mayor program, the Know Your City Government initiative also elected the Little Vice Mayor who will be sitting in the office of Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgar Labella, Little Councilors, and Little Department Heads.

Marvin Macasero, a staff member from the Cebu City Local Youth Development Office, said the program will last up to three days.

“The aim of the Know Your City Government is for the youth to know and have a first-hand experience on what it’s like to work in the government, and what projects are being involved to the community,” said Macasero.