The 16th Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) has assured its support to the vision of Mayor Mike Rama for a “Singapore-like Cebu City”.
In their inaugural session this afternoon, Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia encouraged City Council members to rally behind the mayor in this goal, through legislation.
“My fellow legislators, we no longer belong to Team Barug, Kusog, BOPK, or Panaghiusa. But rather, we all belong to Team Cebu City, united towards a better and brighter Cebu City,” he said.
In his speech, the vice mayor also bared his own policy direction for the City Council. Under his leadership, he said he plans that the council pursue legislative measures anchored on his “RESULTA” platform.
This stands for: (1) Responsiveness to the development agenda of Mayor Rama; (2) Education; (3) Settlements; (4) Urban development; (5) Livelihood; (6) Transportation and traffic management; and (7) Advancing the participation and representation of civil society.
For his part, Mayor Rama also delivered an inaugural address at the SP session hall, where he discussed his policy direction for the next three years.
At the start of his speech, he asked all SP members as well as departments heads and guests present to raise their right hands and take an oath of support to his administration vision of a Singapore-like Cebu City.
“Help your mayor, help your vice mayor. Help, help, and help. Put everything, whatever you have, and we guarantee, we will have a beautiful three years of togetherness,” the mayor said in his speech.
He added that the City is not lacking in talent and greatness, especially in the private sector.
Prior to his speech, the mayor had a video presentation revealing his specific plans in his first 100 days, in relation to his administration’s BARUG CEBU CITY platform.
“I need everybody’s support. It’s not I, it’s we, it is us,” Mayor Rama said.
Following the speeches, the City Council discussed and approved their new set of house rules as well as their set of officers.
The president pro tempore is Councilor Dondon Hontiveros while Councilor Joy Pesquera is the majority floor leader. The first assistant majority floor leader is Councilor James Anthony Cuenco and the second assistant majority floor leader is Councilor Phillip Zafra.
On the other hand, the minority floor leader is Councilor Nestor Archival, Sr. and the assistant minority floor leader is Councilor Joy Young.
As for the different standing committees, these are their respective chairmen and vice chairmen:
Committee on Budget and Finance
Chairman: Hon. Noel Wenceslao
Vice Chairman: Hon. Joy Pesquera
Committee on Social Services
Chairman: Hon. Francis Esparis
Vice Chairman: Hon. Jaypee Labella
Committee on Housing
Chairman: Hon. Raymond Alvin Garcia
Vice Chairman: Hon. Noel Wenceslao
Committee on Youth and Sports Development
Chairman: Hon. Jessica Resch
Vice Chairman: Hon. Dondon Hontiveros
Committee on Public Services
Chairman: Hon. Phillip Zafra
Vice Chairman: Hon. Jaypee Labella
Committee on Labor, Employment, Cooperative, and Livelihood
Chairman: Hon. Jaypee Labella
Vice Chairman: Hon. Joy Pesquera
Committee on Trade, Commerce, and Entrepreneurship
Chairman: Hon. Jun Alcover
Vice Chairman: Hon. Rey Gealon;
Committee on Markets
Chairman: Hon. Junjun Osmeña
Vice Chairman: Hon. Jun Alcover;
Committee on Infrastructure
Chairman: Hon. Jerry Guardo
Vice Chairman: Hon. Dondon Hontiveros;
Committee on Urban Planning
Chairman: Hon. Jerry Guardo
Vice Chairman: Hon. Noel Wenceslao;
Committee on Public Order
Chairman: Hon. Phillip Zafra
Vice Chairman: Hon. Joel Garganera;
Committee on Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Safety, and Climate Change Adaptation
Chairman: Hon. Joel Garganera
Vice Chairman: Hon. Phillip Zafra;
Committee on Health, Hospital Services, and Sanitation
Chairman: Hon. Joy Pesquera
Vice Chairman: Hon. Joel Garganera;
Committee on Laws, Ordinances, and Styling
Chairman: Hon. Rey Gealon
Vice Chairman: Hon. Raymond Alvin Garcia;
Committee on Education, Science, and Technology
Chairman: Hon. Dondon Hontiveros
Vice Chairman: Hon. Joy Pesquera;
Committee on Scholarship Program
Chairman: Hon. Dondon Hontiveros
Vice Chairman: Hon. Phillip Zafra;
Committee on Barangay Affairs
Chairman: Hon. Franklyn Ong
Vice Chairman: Hon. Francis Esparis;
Committee on Games and Amusement
Chairman: Hon. Junjun Osmeña
Vice Chairman: Hon. Joel Garganera;
Committee on Tourism, Arts, and Culture
Chairman: Hon. Dondon Hontiveros
Vice Chairman: Hon. Jaypee Labella;
Committee on Sister Cities Relations and Big Brother Program
Chairman: Hon. James Anthony Cuenco
Vice Chairman: Hon. Joy Pesquera;
Committee on Agriculture and Rural Development
Chairman: Hon. Jun Alcover
Vice Chairman: Hon. Phillip Zafra;
Committee on Environment, Natural Resources, Energy and Other Utilities
Chairman: Hon. Joel Garganera
Vice Chairman: Hon. Rey Gealon;
Committee on Transportation and Communication
Chairman: Hon. James Anthony Cuenco
Vice Chairman: Hon. Jun Alcover;
Committee on Women, LGBTQ, and Family Affairs
Chairman: Hon. Joy Pesquera
Vice Chairman: Hon. Joel Garganera;
Committee on Information and Communications Technology
Chairman: Hon. Jaypee Labella
Vice Chairman: Hon. Junjun Osmeña;
Committee on Animal Welfare
Chairman: Hon. Raymond Alvin Garcia
Vice Chairman: Hon. Phillip Zafra;
Committee on House Rules and Oversight
Chairman: Hon. Joy Pesquera
Vice Chairman: Hon. James Anthony Cuenco. (Cebu City News & Information)
