Mega Cebu Calls for Public Support

Since the Mega Cebu Program began on April 2011, raising public awareness on its vision for Metro Cebu and gaining support from various stakeholders have remained big challenges.

 Hence, early September, the Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board (MCDCB) launched the Mega Cebu Month in response to the need of widespread campaigning of Mega Cebu Program’s advocacy towards creating a sustainable city-region out of 13 local government units (LGUs) of Metro Cebu.

 The launching held at the Cebu Provincial Capitol was livened up by the Mega Cebu mascots, Mega Day and Mega Bai.

 With this year’s theme “Mega Cebu: Making W.A.V.E.S.! (Wholesome, Advanced, Vibrant, Equitable, and Sustainable)”, the whole month of September is dedicated to providing avenues for the varied urban challenges of each of the partner LGUs to be put in a metro-wide context through workshops, fora, and group discussions.

 “We want to put in the proper context the role of Mega Cebu Program. It is not limited to a specific LGU because each has a structure mandated to what they have to do. We are looking on their interests and what they can do to develop Metropolitan Cebu. We hope to review and align their respective goals to the Mega Cebu 2050 vision and development strategy,” Evelyn Nacario-Castro, executive director of Eduardo Aboitiz Development Studies Center (EADSC) of Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI), said during an episode of “Pagtuki”, the official radio program of RAFI.

RAFI leads the Research, Planning and Organizational Development of MCDCB.

 The Mega Cebu Program promotes collaboration among Metro Cebu’s seven cities (Cebu, Talisay, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Carcar, Naga, and Danao) and six municipalities (San Fernando, Minglanilla, Cordova, Consolacion, Liloan, and Compostela).

Recognizing the role of the youth as the primary stakeholders and role models in line with the Mega Cebu Program’s vision for Cebu, Mega Cebu Month features a Search for Mega Cebu Ambassadors. Thirteen pairs of young men and women from each of the LGUs of Metro Cebu will compete for the distinct and honorary role.

Other activities that target youth participation include a quiz bowl, oratorical contest, extemporaneous speaking contest, poster-making contest, and android application contest. There are also skill-based competitions, such as songwriting, photography, and choir competition.

On the other hand, scholars of RAFI’s Young Minds Academy, an eight-month youth leadership and citizenship program, are to come up with team projects responsive to urban development issues faced by partner LGUs involved in the Mega Cebu Program.

 “They (YMA scholars) are trained and have different LGUs assigned to them to research on. The scholars’ projects are important to the improvement of the LGUs,” Castro said.

 To know more about Mega Cebu, visit www.facebook.com/megacebu2050 or www.megacbu.org, or follow @mega_cebu on Twitter.

 Pagtuki is aired over dyLA 909 AM every Saturday at 10-11am. The program, which is one of the Knowledge Sharing & Advocacy capabilities of RAFI, tackles timely and relevant issues on community development, politics and governance, micro-financing, education, environment, early childhood care and development, and culture and heritage that affect the Cebuano community.

 For more information about RAFI’s radio program, please contact Chrisley Ann Hinayas at 418-7234 loc. 540, or visit www.rafi.org.ph or www.facebook.com/rafi.org.ph, or follow @rafiorgph on Twitter. (by Josame Israel/RAFI intern)