EDITORIAL - Of what use is the grass if the horse is dead?

A statement attributed to Cebu City Vice Mayor Michael Rama says, in effect, that there is no rush by the city government to come up with a real, practical, honest-to-goodness drainage system.

Rama was quoted as saying a drainage system will cost something like P16 million, which the city is not prepared to spend. Besides, the consent of the barangays affected by the drainage system will reportedly have to be obtained first.

This, of course, is just a lot of hemming and hawing. The truth of the matter is that a credible drainage system has never been high on the priority list of projects of Cebu City, regardless of whoever is the sitting mayor.

Almost as far back as anyone can remember, many places in the downtown area of Cebu City, including what used to be the main business district of Colon, inevitably go underwater during rains. In fact they still do.

Recently, another flood-prone area, Sindulan in barangay Mabolo, again went under several feet of rampaging floodwaters, but this time with very disastrous effects. Almost an entire family was wiped out with the death of six members trapped by a collapsed wall.

Yet, despite the tragedy, the city government appears unconvinced by the stark reality that a real drainage system is long overdue. Perhaps it is banking on the notion that the tragedy will raise awareness high enough to make people more ready and willing to fend for themselves.

What is ironic is that while a stark and real need is staring City Hall in the face, all that it is able and willing to do in similar circumtances is just to swiftly declare a state of calamity so financial assistance can be quickly given.

Here we are, talking of a real need to save lives and make this city a better place to live in, and it seems all City Hall is willing to do is give money to bury the dead or buy medicine to those who get sick. Of what use is the grass if the horse is dead.