Tomas wants to be Neda secretary
ALTHOUGH no offer has been made, Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña said he will consider filling the position of National Economic and Development Authority (Neda) chief if it is offered to him.
Osmeña, who was elected south district congressman, said he will closely monitor movements in Neda and possible appointees as its secretary, which is one of the most important Cabinet posts.
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Its secretary is appointed by the President.
“No, there is no offer although I’m very interested in knowing who’s going to get that position. If it’s offered to me, I will consider it... Right now my priority, of course, is protecting the SRP (South Road Properties) but if there is one position in the National Government where I think I can help, it’s Neda,” he told Sun.Star Cebu.
“If it is offered to me, I will not say no. I will consider it very strongly,” Osmeña said.
The Neda, as mandated by the Philippine Constitution, is the country’s independent economic development and planning agency, which deals with foreign-funding agencies and investors in the implementation of infrastructure projects.
Projects
In an interview yesterday afternoon, the mayor said he is interested in the post because he wants to help other provinces and cities in getting the help of foreign-funding agencies for their projects.
He lamented that local government units (LGUs) are not able to access Official Development Assistance (ODA) for projects that can directly benefit them.
Neda, he said, is isolated from the LGUs and instead of funding projects in the localities that can improve the quality of life of the locals, foreign funding agencies funded “questionable” contracts like the ZTE national broadband deal.
The mayor said his 15 years of experience as mayor and helping secure ODA projects for Cebu will help him qualify for the post.
Among the ODA pro-jects he said he helped get for Cebu were the multi-million traffic lights system, the second Mandaue-Mactan bridge, the circumferential road in Mactan and the Metro Cebu Development Project, which includes the 290-hectare South Reclamation Project, the Cebu South Coastal Road and its tunnel.
He pointed out that most LGUs in the country don’t have funds for similar projects.
“ODA is so isolated from local governments. Local governments don’t know what to do, so instead, these big transactions go to questionable deals like the ZTE, light rail transits and multi-billion transactions and the governors and mayors don’t have any say on these things. They cannot access it and that’s one area where I can help because I kind of mastered it,” Osmeña said.
In Cebu, Bohol and the rest of the Visayas, the mayor sees tourism infrastructure projects as a priority to improve the tourism industry, which, he said, directly benefits the locals.
Tempting
When asked if he is ready to give up his seat in Congress for the post of Neda secretary, the mayor would not give a categorical answer yet.
“I don’t know. It’s very tempting but I’m not going to make a commitment right now because right now there are so many projects that I am committed to,” he said.
If Osmeña gives up his seat in the House of Representatives, a special election will have to be conducted to elect his replacement.
A source from the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK) said first lady and south district city councilor-elect Margot Osmeña is being considered a candidate, but the mayor would not confirm it since his taking a seat in the Cabinet is only a “10-percent possibility for now.”
While it is true BOPK delivered 226,342 votes for LP presidential candidate Benigno “Noy-noy” Aquino in the city, he said that getting positions in his administration is not their main concern.
He said, though, they will try to be in a position to recommend people, including outgoing Rep. Raul del Mar (Cebu City, north), for different positions.
“My primary concern is not accommodating our people, but helping the National Government and finding the best man for the job.
But at the end of the day, we should see to it that some of our people are represented. There should be a Cebuano in the Cabinet, for sure,” Osmeña added.
In an interview last Wednesday, outgoing Rep. Antonio Cuenco (Cebu City, south district), who is close to the Aquinos, said he will also welcome any position that Aquino will offer him.
He said he may even give up his post as secretary general of the Asean Inter-Parliamentary Assembly if he can better serve the country by holding a National Government position in the Aquino administration. (LCR)
Karon na gilatos ug gipakauwawan si Gibo sa cebu, expect lang ta na ang mga Osmena na ang mo dominate. Humana ang panahon sa pag gara sa mga Garcia. Malamboon ang cebu under Noyoy.
Tomas wants to be Neda secretary
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