Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama said Calatrava is a “good fellow.”
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. recently appointed Calatrava as the new head of the Office of the Presidential Assistant for the Visayas (Opav)
Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes congratulated Calatrava, saying he was “elated to work with the Opav under your leadership, to bring the services of the government closer to the people.”
As for Rama, he said he has known Calatrava for a long time already. He further said that he had worked with Calatrava, especially in organizing the campaign rally of Marcos when he was still a candidate in the presidential election.
“It is a welcome [development] for all of us. He is a nice fellow. We have been together in organizing the BBM rally,” said Rama.
Rama said there is no scheduled meeting between him and Calatrava as of now.
Calatrava formally took his oath of office before Executive Secretary Lucas Bersamin at Malacañang on Tuesday, Dec. 6, as the new head of the Opav.
Calatrava’s appointment came five months after businessman Michael Lloyd Dino ended his stint as the Opav chief.
Rama said that he and Dino had a good relationship. With Calatrava now at the helm, the mayor said that there are still new things to be learned with the new Opav chief.
“It always has to be a learning thing for a new one but, of course, if he has the listening skill, then we can also be suggesting [projects to him],” said Rama.
However, Rama will not discuss any projects or programs with Calatrava for now because he wants the new Opav chief to settle down first.(IRT WITH HIC)