A community of problems

In my last write-up, I talked about some minor problems of the city that add up to our being dragged away from being recognized as a city second to none. They can, indeed, be minor that some personalities who are now visiting barangays, in the guise of asking for their problems, but obviously to test the political waters, refuse to consider. Hoping that these issues are addressed by those in power and those seeking power, I continue to dwell on them. The major issues can come at a later time.

During a heavy rain not many days ago, I drove near the creek by the side of the University of San Carlos, North Campus (Boys High School, in the olden days). Because I do not anymore pass there as often as I used to, I was looking to find out two things, namely: (a) whether the squatters by the banks were still there considering that the school was erecting an additional perimeter fence made of barbed wires and (b) if the rising volume of water was flowing freely and unimpeded.

They were gone. The squatters. They used to occupy the space just outside the concrete fence of the school. How ingenious! They used discarded GI sheets, tattered boards and tarps, a miscellany of throw-away sticks and lumber in order to build their own homes. And they had complete access to the creek for many unimaginable activities like, I surmise, the disposal of their waste.

For a moment, I felt sad. They could have come from a neighboring island, and being attracted to the lure of Cebu City years ago, they decided to settle here. Alas, coping with the stark reality of a city less hospitable that they ever imagined, they could have found that place, by the side of the university, as the only possible spot to claim their home. Where could they be now? What happened to them?

The answer to my questions above did not take a long time to dawn on me. Only for a very brief furlough, they were gone. Perhaps, they just allowed the completion of the erection of the wire fence. Then, when the construction was completed, when the fence could serve as additional protection to them from the outside, it was time they came back.

There are thousand others in our city living in the kind of subhuman and squalid conditions as those squatters near the university. They reside by the river banks, on sidewalks, some even on the streets like Mina St., in Mabolo (mao nga nawagtang na ning calsadaha) and just about anywhere, including many privately owned lots. Surely, our officials cannot miss them although on account of the fact these settlers continue to multiply, we can only conclude that government leaders do not want to solve this problem.

On an errand, I passed by that creek again. This time, the volume of water had diminished tremendously. The little amount of running water I saw was, however, so very dirty that the sight was unnerving. On its dry spots, there was garbage. Waste materials blocked the free flow of water. I sensed that they caused the rise of water each time it rained hard.

The view at the estero not far from the editorial building of this paper is not dissimilar. In fact, it is worse. The bed must be heavily silted because the water, rather, mud (or something else) is about to over flow and spill unto D. Jakosalem Street. This is undeniably another problem that is visible to many people including our officials who, in going to the city hall, are likely to pass by. Most of us may dismiss this as really not a very serious concern but, we can only do so at the dire risk of making its health aspects horribly complex.

True, this may appear like a community of minor problems. But, at the pain of sounding redundant, let me say that our leaders, in attending to them now, shall be poised to face the major ones. Or, if these are not listed among their priorities, I hope they find occasion to consider them as urgent though easily doable matters.