Mayor Rama Approves BOPK Permit to Rally at Capitol Grounds Tomorrow

Rama offered assistance to help man traffic for said event

The Cebu City Traffic Operations Management (CITOM), upon the order of Mayor Michael Rama, yesterday approved the application for permit of the Bando Osmeña Pundok-Kauswagan (BOPK) to hold a rally in front of the Capitol building tomorrow and the mayor even offered to help man the traffic within the vicinity during the event.

Rama said he has ordered CITOM Acting Chairman Rafael Christopher Yap to deploy enough number of traffic enforcers within the vicinity of the Cebu Provincial Capitol in Escario Street and other nearby roads to maintain smooth flow of traffic.

The mayor said Yap had consulted him about the application of the BOPK for permit of their political rally at the Capitol grounds where Rama gave instruction to approve it for the sake of fairness.

“Gawas nga giaprobahan namo ang ilang application motabang pa g’yud mi pag-man sa traffic,” Rama told the reporters.

He encouraged the Team Rama candidates to be at the Capitol premises during the rally and assist the CITOM personnel to ensure the smooth flow of traffic. When asked of whether the Team Rama candidates would be wearing their uniforms, the mayor said “depende lang.”

But Rama’s main opponent for mayor, Cebu City South District Rep. Tomas R. Osmeña, described the mayor’s announcement that he will help man the traffic as a cheap gimmick.
“That’s drama, Team Drama,” Osmeña said in a text message.

While the CITOM is expected to deploy several traffic enforcers within the Capitol premises, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) had been asked also by the rally organizers to help maintain smooth flow of traffic during the event.

President Benigno Simeon Aquino III is scheduled to attend and deliver a speech during the rally where he will introduce the senatorial candidates of Liberal Party and BOPK to the people who will be attending the rally.

Rama said he has no intention to meet with President Aquino tomorrow because the latter will be here for a political gathering of his party mates. Rama is a member of the United Nationalist Alliance (UNA).