Leaner staff, more efficient systems for Cebu City

Former Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama together with reelected Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgar Labella raise the hands of new and reelected Team Rama Councilors after their oath-taking before Adlaon Barangay Captain Nieves Narra at the Rama compound. (CDN PHOTO/LITO TECSON)

CLEANING up city hall of unnecessary employees and inefficient systems are among the first priorities of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who made a commitment to end corruption as he assumed office yesterday.

In his first press conference, Osmeña said the city needs to have an defensive and offensive strategy.

“What are the things that will drag us down? You know already: drugs, traffic, garbage – that’s all defensive. We need to look at where we are strong, and we will concentrate on that. We were strong in bringing business, we were strong in call centers, so we will concentrate on that,” he said.

He will also have the city’s tax collection system reviewed to ensure that businesses pay the right amount of taxes.

“I don’t have the time nga mangita kog sala, mag-document kog sala (to look for faults or document them), I put you here because of trust and confidence, and there are questions regarding your performance, I will fire you. I’m like that; that’s why they will say I’m strict. I like to send reminders to those who don’t know me,” he said.

For now, no new department heads have been appointed.

“I don’t adjust to those things; I look at the needs of the city, and we will respond accordingly,” he said.

Osmena also said he renewed the appointments of several casual employees, many of them for only 30 days pending evaluation.

“I intend to bring down our payroll; it’s very bloated. It’s so politicized, and I don’t know what they are doing. Every ambulance is 20 personnel – they can’t even fit inside the ambulance,” he said.

“We will hire when we will hire. We don’t hire for the sake of hiring when it’s very rare to hire for the sake of hire. Well, there will be some of that, but it will be very very few. What we need to do is to know what we need,” he added.

Earlier in the day, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella and 10 Team Rama councilors took their oath of office before Adlaon Barangay Captain Nieves Narra at Rama Compound.

Former Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said he will still be around to help his allies.

Labella said that they picked Rama compound for the event after Margot refused to let them use the Plaza Sugbo grounds.

But a letter sent to General Services Office showed that Margot, then the acting mayor, gave instructions for the opposition group to be allowed use of the plaza, tents and monobloc chairs.