Cebu: Is there progress amid animosities?

Competitions are customary in a person’s life. In fact, banking on such innate character, reality shows like the Pinoy Big Brother, Pilipinas Got Talent, The Survivor and many others have sprouted.  

Certainly, everyone goes through it almost on a daily basis.   From rushing to a jeepney stop to secure a seat on one’s way to his office to a daily struggle in a job to outlast a co-employee who is also eyeing for a coveted position in the company, competition is a common sight. Positively, competition brings one’s adrenalin to a level that is unachievable in ordinary circumstances. Negatively, however, it brings about the worst in a person. Thus, instead of using such competition to hone one’s skills and get the edge, more often, protagonists use it as a golden opportunity to put each other down. Consequently, they both stagnate and, worst, they both fail. 

Similarly, our politicians in Cebu are in such predicament too. It started with the province going up against the city. Two of the more visible characters in the continuing sad tale of Cebu politics are the “Prince of debt” and the “Queen of darkness” (what Cong. Tom and Gov. Gwen fondly labeled each other). Even if they are now hundreds of miles apart (since Mayor Tom is now in congress), they have incessantly trade barbs against each other. While some comments are too personal, it can’t be denied that some developmental projects have been held hostage due to the unyielding desires of their wounded egos. 

If we may recall, it only started with the “dawat limpyo” remark from the Cebu City council headed then by the current Mayor, Mike Rama. It was said in jest out of the impression of being shortchanged from the proposed swap between the City’s prime lots and the lots occupied by the 93-1 beneficiaries in Barangay Luz. Apparently irked by the unexpected remark, the provincial capitol cooled off the deal. Since then, the war rages on. As emotions and pride joined the fray, reconciliation remained evasive. In fact, as each day unfolds, the problems mount and have become so complex and complicated.

Held hostage by these ongoing animosities are numerous revenue employment generating projects that may help propel Cebu’s economy. For one, the Fifth Avenue’s P1.2-billion Ciudad project in a 2.8-hectare property between Gov. Cuenco Avenue and Asiatown I.T Park in Banilad is on the freezer for the time being. Had the lot been owned by the developer, probably, this project should have been given the green light long time ago. Since the lot, however, is owned by the Province Cebu, and the city then was led by Mayor Tom, it had to assert its might in apparent retaliation to the capitol’s constant questioning on the South Road Properties (SRP).

Today, as Mayor Mike Rama has seemingly hold alliances with the Capitol, this project should have been a go. As we all know, however, he left BOPK. Positively, he has added allies to his fold in Gov. Garcia and her political family. Negatively, however, he caught the ire of Cong. Tomas Osmeña and the city council and, therefore, had added more enemies than friends. Thus, not only that the animosity persisted, it has worsened.

As outside parties to this ongoing war and are therefore more independent, let us look into the subject of their quarrels one by one. After running through with it, let us give a piece of our thoughts as to how to address such concerns.

First, let us take a look at the issue that started it all, the 93-1 beneficiaries of Barangay Luz. In tackling this concern, let us momentarily set aside the monumental “dawat limpyo” remark and focus on the issue at hand. It is a fact that these beneficiaries have been in the place for more than twenty (20) years now. Then, the place was nothing but a haven of informal settlers and to some extent “police characters”. By virtue of a resolution, they were given the opportunity to own the land they built their homes through affordable terms. Despite these very human terms and conditions, however, others failed to comply. To those who have complied, Capitol had allegedly given titles to them. To the delinquent parties, their future remained bleak by their own doing. However, though delinquent, with the unequivocal support from city hall, they have asserted their rights over the land they now occupy. 

Delinquent as they are, they are not coming out clean in this ongoing drama. Naturally, the fear of being evicted haunts them no end. This is not only aggravated by the fact that the lot is owned by the Province of Cebu which CEO happens to be a mortal enemy of their great defender, the province is also in the retrieval mode as far as their previously donated lots are concerns. They already have succeeded in getting back the lot occupied by the Department of Agriculture along M. Velez Street and the Camp Lapulapu in Lahug will also be retrieved in due time. Therefore, considering that they are lowly mortals, the threat that capitol will get their abode with an iron fist is eminent.

With the Cebuanos apparently tired and impatient, these adversaries should be admonished that while their animosities may bring about transparency in the transactions they entered into, the fact still remains that these have dragged economic development efforts that could have been beneficial not only to the island of Cebu but the neighboring provinces as well. They should be reminded that former Gov. Lito Osmeña made us all proud when at the time that the entire nation was in distress, Cebu, as seen as an Island in the Pacific before the entire world, was able to continue its stride to economic growth.

Then, Gov. Lito Osmeña was able to convert what was the haven of Cebu’s elite, the capitol-owned 40-hectare Club Filipino Golf Club, into a bustling Cebu Business Park. Generating thousands of direct employees, it remains a living testament of how government executives plan and implement projects that are real engines for growth.   Who can ever forget the transformation of the capitol-owned Lahug Airport to what is now considered as Asia’s hub for information technology and undisputed leader of business process outsourcing, the IT Park. 

All these developments attained by Gov. Lito Osmeña because political peace obtained then in the entire Island of Cebu. Then, there were no wasted efforts as the City Hall and Capitol were coordinating their programs that were all geared towards economic development.

Indeed, amid these animosities, several inhabitants in the city and province of Cebu are left in the cold. With these politicians egos still to be attended to, we (the hapless constituents) may just have to momentarily freeze while waiting for the manna to come. As to how long the wait shall be, nobody knows. What is certain however is, all these years their egos were well fed while progress continued to starve. 

In the meantime, we just have to content ourselves with the entertainment value these adversaries have to offer. Unlike the PBB, however, theirs is an unending edition as we see no end in sight as far as the possible resolution of their heightened animosities is concerned. In fact, as the election approaches, these squabbles will certainly take another turn, well, for the worst.

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