Winning ‘Kusug’ bet takes oath with Tommy O in attendance

Local

NEWLY elected Cebu City North District Councilor Harold Kendrick Go has addressed speculation over a potential alliance shift in the City Council.

This is following the presence of Vice Mayor-elect Tomas Osmeña during his recent oath-taking ceremony.

Go, who won under the Kusug Party of outgoing Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia, said he has not yet decided whether to join the majority or minority bloc.

"I am not looking at that right now... It is not about the party, at the end of the day, the election is already finished, atoang priority is motrabaho ta tanan," he said.

He emphasized that regardless of political alignments, he intends to carry out his duties as a legislator in service of the people.

The separate oath-taking ceremony, held in Barangay Kamputhaw where Go previously served as barangay councilor, raised eyebrows after Osmeña, leader of the Bando Osmeña Pundok Kauswagan (BOPK), was seen in attendance.

Go explained that Osmeña and his father have long been close friends and that the former mayor simply stopped by and asked how his recent vacation in Sumilon went.

Go clarified that the event was organized at the last minute by the Barangay Kamputhaw Council, which is why Kusug partymates were not invited.

He said he still plans to join his fellow Kusug councilors in their scheduled oath-taking on June 28.

Despite being affiliated with a party outside the incoming administration, Go said he is open to supporting the programs of Mayor-elect Nestor Archival, especially if they benefit constituents.

He expressed particular support for Archival’s plan to operate City Hall services 24/7, which he said would help residents in urgent need of hospitalization assistance or permits during weekends.

He believed that emergencies and important transactions should not be limited by office hours and that a round-the-clock City Hall could improve service delivery.

As a first-term councilor, Go considered his being neophyte politician an advantage, saying he is eager to contribute fresh ideas while also learning from veteran council members.

He expressed interest in heading committees on business, trade, and infrastructure, and is also advocating for livelihood and entrepreneurship projects under a proposed “Kabuhayan” initiative.

With the incoming council evenly split, six from BOPK, six from Kusug-Panaghiusa, and four from Partido Barug, no party holds a simple majority.

Go said there have been no talks within Kusug yet about forming new alliances and noted that his focus remains on serving the public, encouraging cooperation with the incoming Archival-Osmeña administration.(MyTVCebu)