Osmeña dangles cash to clear streets during ASEAN summit

On top of the P100,000 Mayor Tomas Osmeña is willing to give towns and cities in the province for the "balik-probinsiya" program, the mayor is also considering allocating a budget for the mountain barangays in the city for a "balik-bukid" program also during the ASEAN Summit in December.

The "balik-probinsya" program is aimed at luring people back to their hometowns during the the four-day summit on December 11 to 14. Osmeña thinks the same concept should be considered for residents in the city's mountain barangays.

In the same note, Osmeña said he would ask President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo to amend her earlier declaration of an official holiday during the summit. He said that because activities for the summit would be concentrated in the city proper, the mountain barangays can be spared from the holiday.

Osmeña said he would prefer the residents in the mountain barangays to stay in their barangays and refrain from coming to the city during the summit. This, he believes, can be solved if no holiday is implemented in the mountain barangays.

No specific amount is set for the mountain barangays but the P100,000 for the towns and cities are meant to finance programs and activities that would lure people back to their hometowns. The city's generosity, however, will not be extended to Talisay City because the city and Talisay are feuding over the South Reclamation Project.

Osmeña believes this endeavor could stir interest among those who come from the provinces but currently lives in the city and entice them to plan a holiday from December 11 to 14. Arroyo recently formally declared the dates official holidays.

Osmeña said this would also give out-of-town businessmen a chance to attract consumers who would attend the activities. The end result, he said, would be an infusion of money into the municipalities and cities.

Osmeña would want to clear the city streets to maximize the security during the event that promises at least 5,000 participants to converge in the city. This on top of at least 250 business leaders from around the world who would participate in the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting also here in Cebu City just three days before the ASEAN Summit. - Joeberth M. Ocao