Two column issues ago, I wrote an article that, for lack of a better term, I entitled "Missionary Collaboration". It contained neither religious purpose nor military agendum. I simply identified the nine local government units in Cebu Island which I imagined to have received the most severe damage from Yolanda. According to reports, these are Bogo City, and the towns of Bantayan, Borbon, Daanbantayan, Madridejos, Medellin, San Remigio, Santa Fe and Tabogon. I then proposed to the leaders of our province and the other local government units that were spared from the ferocity of the super typhoon to form nine separate groups with each one taking responsibility to help those damaged places in rebuilding. It was supposed to be the mission of the luckier localities, (luckier because they were not in the typhoon path), to collaborate with those devastated areas in planning and working out a faster recovery.
If only to start exploring the concept, I suggested some pairings of sort. Truthfully, my basis in proposing certain pairings was personal insight and therefore, quite arbitrary. Even admitting to such context, I still insist that my pairing considerations actually have some footings. For instance, I wished that Cebu City would take unto itself the task of helping Bogo City because the mayor of Bogo City also resides here in Cebu City. I went on to recommend Lapu-lapu City as taking Daanbantayan because their mayors are family members. In my frame of mind, the cities of Cebu should lead one group each although Cebu, Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Cities, because of their deep financial capability, can be entrusted with the task of assisting one town each.
Subsequent to my article, the honorable Mayor Michael L. Rama of Cebu City though was reported to have suggested the idea of adoption. In his explanation, he would be glad to have Cebu City adopt, say Ormoc City in Leyte, and help it recover from the devastation brought by Yolanda. To me, "missionary collaboration" and adoption are similar concepts with different nomenclature.
With due respect to the mayor, he should consider using the resources of Cebu City to help Bogo City or any of the local government units in Cebu. Here are my reasons.
First. While Cebu City, being highly urbanized, has been, for decades, detached from any political relations with the rest of the province, to all and sundry, it is the capital of the province. This is symbolized by the fact that the provincial capitol lies in the heart of the city. So, if it is the virtual provincial capital, it becomes its unwritten responsibility to help heal any of its supposed anatomical part.
Second. The fact that the city has nothing to do with the political affairs of the rest of the province makes its assistance more meaningful. There will be no attribution of politically selfish motivation. The help that the city can extend cannot put on the spot the leaders of these two political subdivisions.
Third. In a recent radio interview, I heard, with a great sense of relief, from the honorable Bogo City Mayor Celestino Martinez, Jr., that his city is on its "recovery stage". This should mean that their efforts are no longer aimed at providing food to their people, which, understandably was what they needed right after the typhoon. They are past that stage.
In rebuilding their city, the Bogo City administration of Hon. Junie Martinez needs equipment and manpower to clear their roads. Mobility being an important segment of economy, putting back the city's transportation system is now a priority. Without doubt, the fastest way to do it is to make its road network free of any hindrance.
The distance between Cebu City and Bogo is barely a hundred kilometers. The available heavy equipment units of Cebu City can be dispatched to Bogo rather easily. In other words, the kind of help Bogo needs can be provided by Cebu quickly and more effectively.
By way of negative reasoning, Cebu City should not anymore go to Leyte. All the attention of the world is on Tacloban City and nearby towns. Relief efforts will keep on flowing to Tacloban. Whatever our city can do is better poured into such areas as are not within the radar of world help like Bogo City.