No big ticket items for Cebu? Blame the LP!

Before I write my comments on the visit of Pres. Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III to Cebu last Wednesday for the launching of the 180,000dwt “Tenshu Maru” and later to grace the formal blessing of the Radisson Blu, allow me to print a letter from our reader:

“Dear Sir, I just would like to comment on Mr. Aquino’s message during his visit in THI Shipyard, Balamban, Cebu (published Nov.11, 2010 The FREEMAN). I quote: “We have achieved much in such a short time and we stand to achieve so much more.” He compared the nation before as a “floating into the heavy fog, sinking slowly and steadily, aimless and hampered by a corrupt government and an absentee ship captain.”

I would like to inform every Filipino that the construction of the ship that was launched recently by the fortunate President P.Noy was hatched, and started during the time of Pres. Gloria Arroyo. The graving dock where that ship was erected was constructed and was completed during the time of Gloria Arroyo. Sad to say, P.Noy reaped the fruits of the trees planted by the previous administration and he was happy to announce that the ship was done during his time.

No doubt, P.Noy has no open heart for the Cebuanos. He has not even promised a single new big ticket project to be implemented in Cebu. For Pres. Noy, for the sake of the Cebuanos and every Bisaya who voted for you, please give them something in return. Thank you. Best Regards. M. Tarona.”

I can’t say that I disagree with Mr. Tarona. There is no question that P.Noy’s speech was made by his speechwriter (hopefully, it’s no longer the insulting Carmen “Mai” Mislang of Tweeter fame) long before they even got to see what the Aboitiz Group and the Tsuneishi Heavy Industries Cebu, Inc. (THICI) have been doing in more than 16 years of operation. P.Noy did not even stay long enough to seriously look at the capabilities of Tsuneishi to build ships that could help the Philippine Navy that still acquire foreign-made ships.

Pres. Noy also just dropped in on the blessing of Radisson Blu and left in a huff to catch former US President Bill Clinton in Manila who gave P.Noy the thumbs-up because he agreed to support the population control programs that are being forced by the Democrats in our own country; otherwise, we couldn’t get any foreign aid from the Obama Administration.

I’m sorry if I’m not optimistic that Pres. P.Noy will give Cebu any big ticket items, which is one of the reasons why I choose another Presidential candidate during the last elections. But then, I don’t blame P.Noy for his lack of foresight or plans for Cebu because he really had none in mind.

If we have to blame anyone, this falls on the shoulders of the leadership of the Liberal Party, now headed by Rep. Tomas Osmeña who should initiate those big ticket items under the leadership of Pres. P.Noy. Now whether it comes in the form of a rail-base or bus-base mass transit system, anything is welcome as long as it can be funded and hopefully become operational within the six-year term of Pres. Noy; otherwise, we end up just like former Pres. Joseph “Erap” Estrada who inaugurated and blessed the Marcelo Fernan Bridge, which was done long before his presidency, just like what P.Noy did in Balamban, blessing a vessel that was constructed during the time of PGMA.

P.Noy did not stay long enough to study what we are doing in Balamban, especially to see for himself what the Tsuneishi or the FBMA Marine could do for the Philippine Navy. We went to the blessing and inauguration of the Radisson Blu last Wednesday evening, thinking that Pres. Noy would be around to meet the glitterati of Cebu. Alas, he already did the honors during lunch. Hence those pro-P.Noy Cebuanos were disappointed that P.Noy would not even stay for socials, unlike former Pres. GMA who loved to sit not only with Cebuano journalists, but the Cebuano society in general. How things have truly changed for Cebu.

So why was the President in so much of hurry? Well, he apparently left for Japan to attend the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit in Yokohama. He is also looking for Japanese investments even ahead of the APEC Summit as reported in The Star. Many pundits are now saying that the reason why P.Noy appointed Amba. Manolo Lopez formerly of Meralco as Philippine Ambassador to Japan was in payment for his political debts; after all, ABS-CBN went all-out for P.Noy in the last elections.

Hence these pundits especially radio commentators are saying that if and when those Japanese investments come, chances are, they might partner with companies belonging to the Lopez Conglomerate. I’d like to give Amba. Lopez the benefit of the doubt that he would be above board. Otherwise, people would say that nothing has changed under the Aquino administration.