Mandaue City preps new vision

Mayor Jonas Cortes will reveal his new plans for the local government unit during his State of the City Address on Wednesday Cebu’s hosting of the APEC will be tackled in his speech He will also announce 15 initiatives for good governance

MANDAUE City will have a new vision and mission.

These will be revealed when Mayor Jonas Cortes delivers his State of the City Address (Soca) this Wednesday afternoon at the City Hall grounds.

Lawyer and Executive Secretary Jamaal James Calipayan said that the mayor will announce the City's new direction.

Cortes will also talk about his administration's efforts to make the city competitive amid the economic integration of the member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

He will give updates on the City's preparations for the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation conference next year.

Host

Cebu is expected to host some of the ministerial meetings.

Aside from City Hall officials and workers; barangay captains, private sector representatives and City consultants are expected to attend the event, which will start at 4 p.m.

Members of the city's multi-sectoral governance coalition were also invited to listen to the mayor's Soca, which is expected to last for 30 to 45 minutes.

Calipayan said that the mayor will announce the City's 15 initiatives under the Performance Governance System, a governance framework the City is adopting in partnership with the Institute for Solidarity in Asia.

"The mayor will also talk about the city's peace and order situation, particularly in the fight against illegal drugs," Calipayan said.

Cortes, who is serving his third and last term, will deliver his Soca right after the city council's regular session.

Update

Calipayan said that the mayor will also update the constituents on the City's socialized housing projects and the city's disaster preparedness.

Cortes will also talk about the proposed amendments in the City's Revenue Code and Investment Code, which he recently submitted to the council for approval.

Last Thursday, the city council held a public consultation for the ordinances raising the City's business tax rates and updating the City's schedule of fair market values.

Calipayan said that Cortes will also inform his constituents of his administration's effort to get an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) certification for key City Hall offices.