IF WE HOLD ON TOGETHER. The Cebu City Council hold hands during a Mass officiated by Msgr. Boy Alesna before the start of their first session this year. (CDN PHOTO/JUNJIE MENDOZA)
More than three years after being dominated by the Bando Osmeña-Pundok Kauswagan bloc, it’s now Team Rama’s turn to take the reins of the Cebu City Council.
All of the City Council’s 20 committees are chaired by allies of former Cebu City mayor Michael Rama who personally attended yesterday’s inaugural session of the council.
BO-PK councilors were unfazed by this development, saying they have declined any offers of committee chairmanships from Team Rama.
“We agreed among ourselves that we will decline memberships and chairmanships of committees. We’ll give that to them. What’s important is we were designated as deputy mayors which is a bigger duty and responsibility,” said Councilor Sisinio Andales who was also named as the minority floor leader.
Councilor Eugenio Gabuya Jr. was named assistant minority floor leader.
On the Team Rama side, Councilor Edu Rama was named president pro tempore while Councilor James Anthony Cuenco is the majority floor leader.
The first assistant majority floor leader is Councilor Jocelyn Pesquera while the second assistant majority flood leader is Councilor Raymond Garcia.
Pesquera, a lawyer and accountant, will take over from Councilor Margot Osmeña as head of the powerful budget and finance committee while Garcia, also a lawyer, will now head the committee on laws, ordinances and styling.
Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña didn’t attend the council’s inaugural session.
In a press conference prior to the session, Osmeña said he didn’t receive an official invitation.
Sought for comment, Vice Mayor Edgardo Labella said the councilors under the BO-PK bloc didn’t raise the matter of inviting Mayor Osmeña during their inaugural session.
Labella earlier called on the councilors to uphold their mandate of serving the city residents rather than their political interests.
“It’s my fervent hope and prayer that first and foremost, what’s in our hearts and minds are the people who voted us into office,” Labella said.
An inaugural Mass was held at the Social Hall of City Hall that was also attended by former mayor Rama.