Rama-Garcia tandem still a go

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said there’s no change in his political relationship with Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia despite the latter pushing for the temporary halt of the Cebu Bus Rapid Transit (CBRT) project.

On the other hand, Rama warned his colleagues to be “very careful” and that he still means what he said by “enough is enough.”

Rama referred to his statement last Wednesday on his displeasure over Garcia’s privilege speech and submission of a resolution that calls for the temporary halt of the civil works of the CBRT in front of the Provincial Capitol as it is a possible “photobomber” of the heritage site.

The vice mayor’s move followed the memorandum of his aunt, Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia, that ordered to stop the ongoing civil works in front of the Capitol.

This prompted Rama to ask the governor to stop meddling with the city’s affairs.

But Rama said yesterday, March 1, 2024, that his political relationships remain intact.

“I am looking at it… but this shall all be circumspect because I already made a statement ‘enough is enough’. There’s no pretension here," Rama said.

"I mean, [this] is my 32 years already serving Cebu City… my colleagues should be very careful, very careful. But talking about political changes, of course so far, [it’s] the way I want," he added.

However, Rama refused to provide details on the effect of the issue to the Rama-Garcia tandem, which he has been openly declaring as "solid" for the 2025 polls.

“I [will] not be talking about it. October is still far behind… but the most important thing, remember I am an independent mayor," said Rama.

In an interview last Thursday, Garcia said that his resolution was not against the mayor and said that “it is strictly professional.”

He said that it was normal for the executive and legislative department to have opposing opinions on certain concerns, but said it’s all for the interest of Cebu City.

The vice mayor added that it will not change the fact that they belong to the same political party and that he and the mayor are friends.