Cebu must solve lack of infrastructure problems

Today is the Feast Day of St. Josemaria Escriva the Founder of Opus Dei who died on June 26, 1975. He was canonized a saint on Oct.6, 2002. Opus Dei is a way of sanctification in one’s daily work. St. Josemaria life’s mission focused on turning an ordinary Christian’s work into areas of holiness. In short, one can achieve sainthood even in doing ordinary work. This is why Opus Dei does its pastoral work very quietly and humbly.

Today,  the statue of St. Josemaria Escriva will be officially installed at the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral during the 6:00pm Mass. One thing that attracted me to Opus Dei is their constant offering for us sinners to always seek the Sacrament of Reconciliation through confession. One hour before the Mass, priests will be available to hear your confessions.

*  *  *

Yesterday morning, I went to the Radisson Blu for the forum on Australia’s Infrastructure Capability where I was to give a presentation on Cebu’s infrastructure plans and programs. That forum was aimed to showcase Australia’s capability for innovation and approaching solutions, notable of which is their capability for green and sustainable building. This was presented to the audience by Mr. Anthony Weymouth, Minister-Counsellor & Senior Trade Commissioner, Austrade Manila.

Cebu City is no stranger to Australia’s technological capability. If you recall, early in the 90s, then Mayor Tomas Osmeña upgraded our traffic systems with the Sydney Coordinated Automatic Traffic System (SCATS), which literally put Cebu on the map when we speak of having an automated traffic lighting system. That program cost P110 million and was designed to cut traffic personnel as there would be fewer traffic enforcers manning our streets. Indeed, most of the 90s and well into the 2000, Cebu’s traffic system was the country’s best traffic system.

But then, we have what I would call the reverse of the Midas touch, wherein whatever projects we go into, we end up not improving them, but rather slowly, but surely it gets so deteriorated to the point it’s practically useless. That’s what’s happened to our SCATS system. It is no longer working as it was envisioned and I dare say it is time to replace it with a better system, that’s if Mayor Michael Rama can find the funding for it.

I was a bit ashamed in presenting Cebu’s infrastructure programs before the Australians because certain road projects that began in 2005, when I was still CITOM chairman, are still unfinished until today. I’m referring to the widening of M. Velez St. beside the Provincial Capitol. When will this project finally be finished? Only God knows!

Finally, we showed the Australians my favorite topic, the tunnel and bridge to link Cebu to Bohol or that third bridge by Archt. Yumi Espina, which we hope the Australians might get interested in. Now whether we’ll get the Australians interested in these projects, we will have to wait and see. I guess it all depends on diplomacy between RP & Australia.  

Incidentally, one of the highlights of the Cebu Business Month (CBM) was the Tourism Congress held last Friday and CBM Tourism Chair Edwin Ortiz discussed the economic impact of cruise ships that recently visited Kalanggaman Island off Leyte. So the question wanting for an answer is, “Why aren’t cruise ships making a stop in the Philippines?” These days should have been a perfect time for cruise ships to visit the Philippines because Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia are suffering from a haze that has already reached hazardous levels.

But once more, this brings us to the very same problems we’ve never learned to solve, that our Cebu International Port Authority (CPA) lack port facilities to ensure the safety and comfort of foreign tourists. This is not to mention that the Port of Cebu has become too shallow, it can no longer accommodate those huge multi-storey mega cruise ships. So we are back to square one in pointing at the Aquino regime for our lack of infrastructure.

*  *  *

Today is the first death anniversary of my compare, Mr. Jesus “Dodong” Tequillo, (father of my son-in-law Atty. Jennoh & Dr. Fara Tequillo) who died a year ago due to diabetes complications. Pareng Dodong was a very good family man, a jovial fellow who loved to sing old Visayan songs. Even when he was having his weekly dialysis, he wanted to cheer his fellow patients and ended up creating a group called KFC… for Kidney Failure Club, where he put joy and happiness to what was otherwise a gloomy medical situation.

A few months before he passed on to eternal life, Pareng Dodong even came up with a concert for his KFC at the Grand Majestic, which earned a standing ovation from his friends. Alas, God had other plans for Pareng Dodong and took him away to heaven exactly a year ago. May we request the pious reader to please pray for the repose of his soul.

*  *  *

Email: [email protected]