Mayor Mike Rama’s firm decision not to give financial assistance to the Mahiga informal settlers as, he opines, it will only cause a bad precedent is fallacious at best and, at its worst, very inhuman.
Although this is water under the bridge now because of the availability of the P78-million poverty alleviation fund from the National Housing Authority (NHA) that will pay for resettlement projects intended for informal settlers found in creeks, esteros and waterways, still without it, Mayor Rama would have pursued his heartless demolition and forced evacuation of the settlers in the name of “political will.”
In fact Mayor Rama would have defied the Cebu City council’s resolution asking him to suspend the demolition of illegal structures built along the city’s creeks and rivers until the city prepares relocation sites for them, as his original plan was to remove them from the Mahiga waterway without the benefit of a relocation site and any financial aid for the families affected.
To whom is Mike Rama trying to impress that he is his own man now, and like his predecessor, that he, too, has political will?
Mayor Mike Rama and Gov. Gwen Garcia
It has been conspicuously apparent that Rama has been supporting, agreeing and showing his loyalty to Gov. Gwen Garcia in matters affecting the city, like the Ciudad project and the so-called City-Capitol housing proposal utilizing provincial lots for relocation sites.
Is this show of symbiotic relationship beneficial for all? Definitely, yes! But, as far as Cebu City is concern, it should not be done at the expense of the City council.
Mayor Rama should stop making decisions unilaterally especially if it concerns the City. He should show respect to the City council that is mandated to ensure that the City runs legislatively sound.
If Rama’s action and decision is being influenced more by Gov. Garcia’s beliefs and ideas than that of the collective sound judgment of the City council for his own political expediency and survival, then it only negates his show of real political will.
One can only bring about an effective political will when one is devoid of any political agenda and does not have prejudice against those who have nothing but the best of intentions to make you succeed.
