Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama is eyeing a historic date and setting for his State of the City Address (SOCA).
He will address the City Council’s inaugural session on Wednesday and then deliver his SOCA on Saturday afternoon, July 4, at Plaza Independencia.
He said he wanted the last SOCA of his term to be “different”.
July 4 is the original date of the declaration of Philippine Independence by the United States.
In 1946, the Treaty of General Relations was signed between the Republic of the Philippines and the United States relinquishing American sovereignty over the islands.
“There are too many (concerns) that I will be bringing to the people of the City of Cebu and it’s a different SOCA, actually. It’s a bigger SOCA and it will have to be delivered historically on July 4 and at the Plaza Independencia,” Rama told a press conference.
In 2013, Rama delivered his SOCA in the City Council’s inaujgural session.
In 2011 and 2012, during his first term as mayor, Rama delivered the annual speech at Plaza Sugbo in front of City Hall since he wasn’t invited by the council to their session which was led by then vice mayor Joy Augustus Young.
Yesterday RAma said invitations would be sent to all city officials, including those with the Bando Osmena Pundok Kauswagan (BO-PK).
“If people want to come in, then come. Of course (City Hall) employees must be there. And then I will invite the council. It’s up to them if they will join,” he said.
Rama was invited to the inaugural session of the BO-PK-dominated council on Wednesday. He said he would attend and deliver a separate message.
Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said that during the inaugural session that marks the start of their last year before the 2016 election, the council will discuss changes in House rules and committee
chairmanship and composition. They plan to create an oversight committee to monitor compliance of ordinances and resolutions.
An initial meeting was held yesterday.Councilor Margot Osmena said “nothing earth-shaking” was decided and that some councilors expressed their desire to switch committees.
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