Maayong “Adlaw sa Pamuo” alang ugma, May 1, 2025!
I would like to especially pay tribute to our workers for making progress possible for our beloved city. For while investments power our economic engine, it is the hands of the workers that move its gears.
But there are those who are still looking for work.
That is why I am happy to announce nga ugmang adlawa adunay job fair nga ipahigayon ang Department of Labor and Employment-7, in partnership sa atoang Department of Manpower Development and Placement, or DMDP.
Mahitabo ang “123rd Labor Day Job Fair” sa Mountain Wing Atrium sa SM Seaside City sa South Road Properties, with registration and pre-screening of applicants happening from 8 a.m. ngadto na sa 10:30 in the morning.
This will be participated in by 35 companies, nga naggikan sa retail and wholesale, food, business process outsourcing, electronic, accommodation, ug uban pa nga mga sektor sa atong business industry.
These companies have 3,743 vacancies, nga if ma-fill up means almost 4,000 of our people gaining economic empowerment.
And at 10 a.m. this Friday, May 2, adunay orientation for applicants of “Jobstart Philippines” at the DMDP Training Hall sa Ramos Public Market in Brgy. Cogon Ramos.
Akong giawhag ang tanan natong constituents nga nag-edad og 18 to 24 and are currently jobless to join and apply.
This is an opportunity for them to kickstart their career through this youth employability program, which the national government is implementing through the Department of Labor and Employment.
Ang mapili-an will have free life skills training, career guidance and employment coaching, and actual company internships. Anaa sab silay allowance while undergoing training and internship.
Those who are interested to join the orientation are advised to bring their birth certificate or any government-issued ID and, kung naa sila, their diploma and transcript of records.
The job fair and the Jobstart program will link our people with potential employers and upscale their skill sets. Nagpakita sab kini nga ang atong administrasyon naglakip sa iyang flagship programs the reduction of the city’s unemployment rate by providing more job acquisition opportunities for its people.
That is why the City, tungod sa mga programa ilawom sa DMDP, was awarded recently for having the top-performing Public Employment Service Office, or PESO, in Central Visayas.
The City was recognized for having held the most number of job fairs, for having the most number of career development and support programs, and for having the best employment facilitation programs and services.
Sama sa akong gisulti during the flag-raising ceremony last Monday, the recognition is “a true testament of our true dedication to uplift lives through accessible employment services, youth employment initiatives, and the holistic career development of our constituents.”
What I can assure the Cebuanos, at this point, is that atong palig-onon pa ang mga programa sa City Hall alang sa panarbaho. And with the cooperation ninyong tanan, dili na imposible.
Dili ko mopasalig og bisan unsa pa except nga, as mayor, I will work hard for my people, especially in diminishing joblessness in the city, and makasalig sila nga basta molihok si Raymond Alvin Garcia, resulta ang garantiya!
ATTY. RAYMOND ALVIN GARCIA
Cebu City Mayor
I have the duty of formally assuming today the position of Mayor of the City of Cebu, in compliance to a lawful directive of the Department of Interior and Local Government and pursuant to a decision of the Office of the Ombudsman.
I do not take this lightly because the Office to which I assume comes with the heavy responsibility of service and commitment to the welfare and betterment of the the people of Cebu City.
But I have been fulfilling this responsibility and discharging the functions of the Mayor of the City of Cebu since May. Thus, our people can remain confident that it will be business as usual and there will be no disruption in our service to the public.
We will continue to act on the concerns and needs of the people. The problems of the City of Cebu needs to be solved and we plan to continue what we have started.
There will be changes — and we have been instituting changes since May — but, in the same way we did it then, it will not be abrupt.
For the remainder of the term that I will assume, I shall focus on health. Importante kaayo nga mahuman nato ang atong Cebu City Medical Center because it has been in such a sorry state for the last couple of years.
As we progress with the construction of the CCMC, kon unsay mahuman, atong ablihan dayon.
As regards programs that are carry-overs, some — like the program to control the flooding problem that exists in some areas and housing — will continue, but there are many things that will also need to be revised and new ones to be instituted.
As regards the relationship of between the Executive and Legislative, I do not foresee any problems. I am in constant communication with the incumbent councilors and we collaborate on what needs to be done.
Cebu City is in good hands and will remain so with your support.
[FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE]
Cebu City Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, now serving the unexpired term of his predecessor, today filed his Certificate of Candidacy (COC) for the city mayoral race under the KUSUG-Panaghiusa coalition and vowed to create more opportunities for his constituents to enhance their quality of life.
Garcia and his running mate, former city councilor and Metropolitan Cebu Water District (MCWD) chairman Joey Daluz, arrived at the Commission on Elections (Comelec) office in Cebu City at 10:45 a.m. and filed their COCs together with a line-up of 16 coalition candidates for councilor, which included six incumbents.
“I am both honored and humbled to officially run as mayor and seek the mandate of the beloved citizens of Cebu City,” Garcia told some 3,000 supporters who cheered the candidates under the KUSUG-Panaghiusa coalition after they filed their COCs.
“I come into this mayoral race fully prepared and very motivated to serve in a permanent capacity after serving you as your acting mayor but also your action mayor in the last five months,” Garcia said. “I strongly believe that my experience as acting mayor has strengthened my character and love for our city ug niandam nako aron mogiya sa Cebu City alang sa usa ka mas hayag mga ugma nga dugay nang gidamgo sa mga Sugboanon,” he pointed out.
Garcia has been acting chief executive of the city since May following the six-month preventive suspension of Mayor Mike Rama by the Office of the Ombudsman for failing to pay the salaries of four City Hall employees. A subsequent Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) Memorandum, dated October 5, 2024, directed him to assume the Office of the City Mayor, following a September 8, 2024 Office of the Ombudsman decision on another case — nepotism.
That decision dismissed Rama from service and perpetually disqualifies Rama him holding any government office.
Garcia has been praised by his constituents as “action mayor” for his tangible accomplishments in spite of his brief tenure as acting mayor of Cebu City, among them the completion of Guba Community Hospital and the Apas Super Family Health Center which both sat idle and unfinished for many years until he took over and sent the projects back into full motion.
Garcia approved the purchase of police cars—a request that had been pending for years—when he took the helm of Cebu City in a bid to strengthen peace and order.
“I am proud of my accomplishments as acting mayor, but nothing makes me prouder than knowing that I made a difference in our communities just by taking action immediately,” he said “Kung naay action mayor, resulta ang garantiya!”
The 47-year-old Garcia, the youngest candidate in the four-way fight, was Rama’s vice mayor and running mate in 2022. He rose to the challenge and successfully provided stability to a shaky local government and a polarized community.
“It was an invaluable experience that taught me a lot of great lessons in good governance, particularly in taking action promptly, whether in responding to individual citizens’ concerns or creating new opportunities that will enhance the quality of life of all residents,” he said.
“I am looking forward to putting this political rollercoaster ride behind us and fostering unity into our community through a leadership that is focused on the future,” Garcia said. ”Daghan pa kaayong angay himuon ang naghuwat. Og inubanan sa pagpaluyo sa akong grupo, kampante ako nga dako ang atong agi,” he added.
The full line-up of councilors running under the Kusug-Panaghiusa coalition ticket includes incumbent councilors Jun Alcover, Joel Garganera and Jaypee Labella from the north district and James Cuenco, Rey Gealon, and Renato “Junjun” Osmena from the south. They are joined by Glena Bontuyan, Harold Go, Maria Ailien Guardo, RJ Osmena, Winston Pepito also representing the north district and Pie Abella, Opel Abellanosa, Jeson Guardo, Eugene Labella and Dave Tumulak from the south district.
Let me begin by expressing my heartfelt congratulations to all athletes!
Beyond the medals, awards, records, honor and the recognition, that the Palarong Pambansa 2024 exclusively rewards, it is your collective performance, unity, passion, and perseverance that inspires a nation.
You have succeeded in showing the country, the power of dedication, the beauty of dreaming big and that your achievements have set a new benchmark for the generations to come.
Whether you are taking home the medals or memories, know that you have made your mark on the history of Palarong Pambansa. And the Palarong Pambansa 2024, has indeed been a historic!
This year’s edition of the Palaro is one of many firsts. For the first time, we expanded the participating teams from 17 regions and included the National Academy of Sports and Philippine Schools Overseas
We endeavored to bring the games closer to you by broadcasting all the games via live streaming; and having an exclusive mobile application is another first! We introduced the access monitoring system in billeting and playing venues to ensure the security of our athletes.
In this Palaro, we also introduced the Online Medal Tally System, allowing us to track the results of the games in real-time. Dancesport, for which Cebu is renowned as the dance sport capital of the country, made its debut as a regular sport.
And though not technically firsts, the Palarong Pambansa 2024 continued the legacy of recognition and respect for history and culture by again incorporating indigenous and traditional games into Philippine Sports through the Palaro ng Lahi and celebrating the differently-abled, through the Para-Games events. And it is this that has touched me the most
To the coaches, officials, workers from the Department of Education, and my fellow servants in the Cebu City Government and the Provincial Government, volunteers, and everyone else who worked tirelessly behind the scenes, you are no-lesser-heroes who display the indomitable Filipino spirit.
As we pay tribute to the victories of the athletes, allow me to give my salute to the countless men and women who shared their time, talent, and energy to make these games truly remarkable.
As we lower the Palarong Pambansa flag, let us carry forward the camaraderie that developed over the course of the games, the sportsmanship that we’ve displayed despite the gruels of competition, and our shared love for the game.
Let these games be a beacon that lights our way towards a brighter future for Philippine sports.
Mabuhi ang Palarong Pambansa! Mabuhi ang atletang Pilipino! Mabuhi kitang tanan! Mabuhi ang Sugbo! Mabuhi ang Sugbuanon. Love the Philippines, and love Cebu!
Mr. President, in behalf of the people of Cebu City and the Cebu Province, allow me to express our gratitude for your administration’s sports program and its role in cultivating the next generation of Filipino world-class athletes. It has certainly played an important part of the transformation of this nation towards Bagong Pilipinas. And to all of our athletes, I wish all of you the best of luck. May the Palarong Pambansa 2024 bring out the best in all of you. Even in the heat of competition, may you always remember the value of sportsmanship, and please, please, do not forget to have fun. I implore you to always adapt the mindset of a true champion, even beyond the games, and always strive for excellence in all that you do.
We directed today the Department of General Services to, in the exigency of service, revoke the fuel allocation of all Cebu City Government vehicles.
The fuel allocation for vehicles assigned to our barangays and other government agencies is also covered by the revocation, which is contained in Memorandum No. 16-2024-0271-AM.
There will be no disruption of government service because the fuel allocation intended for emergency vehicles such as ambulances, fire trucks, and garbage trucks, as well as vehicles assigned to the Sangguniang Panlungsod, is not touched by the memorandum.
However, no new fuel allocation shall be given to government vehicles without the approval of my office. And those who wish to avail of fuel allocation can make a request letter stating the intended use of the vehicle and the volume of fuel needed.
This is not the first time the City Government has had to revoke the fuel allocation of government vehicles to allow itself the opportunity to look at how resources are being used, vis-a-vis how it needs to be utilized. Likewise, systems are in place to assess and address subsequent requests for fuel.
Taken last night, when Kate and I had the opportunity to attend Mons. Rudy’s wake, and days after we made a simple tribute during the 2nd Cebu City Heritage Awards. Mons. Rudy is now home with the Creator, and we who are left mourn the passing of one whose distinct talent we shall never see again.
As Acting Mayor, atong gipirmahan ganina ang 5 ka mga taud-taud nang na pending nga mga permit applications sa mga contractors sa MCWD, aron makasugod na sila sa ilang mga projects sa mountain barangays. I don’t want to go into why it got delayed and what the impact of that delay has been. Igo na nga atong mapahibalo nga approved na ang applications and that work can now move forward.
#RESULTAangGARANTIYA
#KUSUG mo #Serbisyo
One of the bigger events nga mahitabo while I’ll be serving as Acting Mayor is the Palarong Pambansa 2024, which will bring to Cebu an estimated 12,000 ka mga student-athletes, ilang coaching staff, ug mga parents or chaperones, to compete in 28 sporting events that are spread out in different locations.
