EDITORIAL – Small price to pay really

It is heartening to note that a person of high respectability, national artist Napoleon Abueva, is among those who are in favor not only of constructing a megadome for Cebu but to rush the construction as well.

It is heartening because Abueva is among those who can speak with objectivity on the issue, being neither a Cebuano nor a politician, with the latter being one of the most vociferous among the many sectors that have taken up the subject.

Abueva has a different tack in proposing haste. Unlike us, who went along with Governor Gwendolyn Garcia on the need to have the megadome up by the time the Asean Summit kicks in, in December, Abueva does not see that gathering as a compelling reason to rush construction.

However, like us, he wants construction to start promptly out of the realistic fear that any further delays may result in the project pricing itself out of feasibility. And he is right. The way prices are escalating, the P250 million megadome budget may not be enough to finish it.

It is clear, however, that the sane voice of Abueva and the others are not likely to appease those who are vehemently opposed to the project. And that is easy to see why. Critics of the project are not really against the megadome. They are against its proponents.

In other words, opposition to the project hinges largely on political considerations. The bottomline is that never mind if the Cebuanos can benefit tremendously from the long-dreamed-of structure so long as Garcia does not get any political credit out of it.

Critics of the project can easily argue that Cebu is Cebu even without the megadome. That is correct. But that is an argument that sees merit only if we close our minds to challenges and opportunities.

If we open up, we can just as easily argue that the Cebu that is Cebu without a megadome may even be a much greater Cebu with a megadome. You see, the ability to shake things up lies in the willingness to employ the water-in-the-glass principle.

To be sure, Garcia will get political credit if the megadome goes up without a hitch. But so what? That is a small price to pay for something that is truly beneficial to the great many. Let Gwen have her day in the sun. In so doing, we can have our day whatever the weather.