EDITORIAL — Deadline lapses

Cebu City recently embarked on a very ambitious project; to be rid of unsightly graffiti, garbage, and street dwellers by this years’ Independence Day celebration. This is in keeping with Mayor Michael Rama’s ambition to bring the city up to par with Singapore.

However, the occasion came and went with unsightly graffiti, garbage, and street dwellers still in city streets.

The city is having a particular issue with street dwellers and mendicants who are skilled at evading authorities, according to Cebu City Anti-Mendicancy Board head, Dr. Lucelle Mercado.

“Moingon g’yud ko ug kaya, pero, daghan lang g’yud sa tanan ug tiwasunon nga trabaho pa,” said Mercado in a report in this newspaper.

Don’t get us wrong, this editorial isn’t to twit city authorities for failing in this regard; this is to thank them for their efforts as well as to say that we understand that such an undertaking will take a long time.

It’s kind of like the same way that we knew deep in our hearts --and despite a campaign promise made-- that the national problem regarding illegal drugs would take more than six months to solve. Any problem that has become so deeply entrenched or prevalent will not go away quickly or be resolved within a few months’ time.

A first-class and highly-urbanized city like Cebu City will undoubtedly draw its own share of people from other areas in the country that are not doing as well. However, not all of these people find their place here and many fall through the cracks; not being able to find jobs, living where they can, and trying to survive however they can.

Any such city will also see its share of trash, graffiti, and other eyesores that may put locals, tourists, and visitors off. Sometimes security and basic government services are spread too thin over a certain area and some places receive more attention than others. Not all barangays are also equal in terms of resources.

Needless to say, the city deserves the support of the public in eradicating graffiti and removing street dwellers and mendicants from the streets. Being “independent” from them is something we can all agree with.