Quisumbing and Osmeña, a tiny comparison

Editor’s Note: This column’s previous installment should have been titled “Uncollected garbage and incompetent leadership” and not “Vicente Duterte, acting mayor of Danao, Cebu.”

 “Those who have less in life must have more in law”. I hear these words each time we have elections. This is a favorite line among those seeking election. In political meetings I attended, applause would drown the speaker’s elocution on securing more legal protection for the less privileged. This will likely be true in future elections. Indeed, in every election, candidates always defer to this statement to win votes from informal settlers who compose a big bulk of electors.

The term informal settlers is the new equivalent of “squatters.” This was adopted mainly “squatters” was believed to add psychological insult to social injury. To be called a squatter was derogatory. Being poor was already a disadvantage, adding the imputation that one was intruding into another’s property added indignity.  It is understandable elected leaders attempt to take care of informal settlers. To improve the lot of the economically disadvantaged is supposedly their most noble objective. Their programs vary according to their social backgrounds and philosophy. But in order to be in a position to help the poor, these leaders must first be elected. Thus, during elections, we always hear the kind of sloganeering I opened this article with.

In addressing the needs of informal settlers, allow me to compare Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Mandaue City Mayor Luigi Quisumbing. Shortly after Quisumbing assumed office, he caused the clearing of the banks of Mandaue City’s side of the Mahiga River at the reclamation area. Many houses of informal settlers were demolished, but we are told the settlers were comfortably relocated to a site provided by the city. The transition was from shanties to homes. We often hear of the gratefulness Mandaue City’s former squatters lavish on Quisumbing. On the other hand and within the same timeframe, we hear of no similar efforts on the part of Cebu City. Osmeña’s zero performance is glaringly embarrassing when compared to Quisumbing’s success. Mandaue City residents must be happy and proud of their mayor.

Only few days ago, I read that some fancied Malacañang officials descended upon Mandaue City reportedly with a huge financial package to Quisumbing. It figured the kind of money that will answer the relocation and housing needs of the city’s informal settlers. What ensued was the revelation that Quisumbing has precisely that plan that the funding from the president’s office will operationalize.

The news initially had me envious. Just a few months ago, Osmeña boasted his close ties to President Rodrigo Duterte. That claim came close to the heels of the dismissal of justice secretary Vitaliano Aguirre after Aguirre named Osmeña a drug protector. If Osmeña’s connection was to the president was good, how come such a proverbial manna from heaven instead went to Mandaue City? The reason, as things began to unfold, was that Quisumbing, a mayor of just two years, had a viable program for his urban poor while Osmeña, who has virtually been our mayor for 30 years, had none.