Letter to the Editor - Too many pretensions

Too many pretensions, this is exactly how I describe the arrangements that are made for the upcoming ASEAN Summit. In a few days, Cebu will host the 12th ASEAN Summit. Leaders from member countries will be here to converge.

Just last Friday, we had a foretaste of what is to come on the big day, so to speak. For ordinary people especially who comprise the work force of the country, the "dry run" caused much hassle for those who were on their way to their respective places of work. Though it was a holiday, there were still some of them who opted to work or were supposed to work on that day.

If you would drive around the metropolis, specifically in areas which is part of the "ceremonial route", you would see the improvements, and the beautifications that were made. The once-busted sodium lights were replaced with new ones. The roads were asphalted and road signs are even more visible this time. Traffic lights along intersections are now in top-notch conditions. Millions of pesos were spent for these undertakings. Thanks to the ASEAN Summit we will somewhat think we are in another country when we pass by these places.

Yeah right, they've made these places beautiful. But after the ASEAN Summit, will they still be there to maintain these projects? I hope they will because the kind of government that we have here in the country is notoriously neglectful of these infrastructures that are actually investments and from the people's taxes. Its heartrending to know that the people who are asking for the release of the millions-worth budget for the summit are the same people who tell us that there is no money for mass housing or for the basic services like hospitals for instance. They might contend that the money is from the national government. But it all goes down to the mere fact that the money comes from the people's purse.

Critics of the seat of power of the province are even threatened to be sued after making such negative remarks about the CICC. Such action still proves how politically backward the way our politicians think. Most of them could not accept criticisms and would even threaten to file libel cases on whoever criticizes them. Backward politics means rearward future of the already battered country.

The kinds of excessive spending the organizers are making right now for the ASEAN Summit makes me think we are a meager province pretending to be rich. Thanks to our politicians that make us think this way.

Jesson J. Morata
Blk. 6 San Miguel Pusok
Lapu-Lapu City