Falling for the same strategy

I STILL have to hear talks about “Operation Asphalt Storm” like what former mayor Tomas Osmeña used to refer to this activity years ago. But the asphalting of major roads in the city is continuing, although I am not sure if the credit should go to the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) 7 or the administration of Mayor Michael Rama. Rehabilitation of the Cebu South Coastal Road is also ongoing and that I am sure is a DPWH undertaking.

Bong O. Wenceslao

Candid Thoughts

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Activities like this always happen in the months immediately before a scheduled election. That’s part of strategizing. It’s always good claiming a certain achievement when it is still fresh in the mind of the voters. I am not saying that is good. Basic services should be delivered when it is needed, not when an election is near. The problem is that voters seem to always fall for this strategy; the reason politicians have the gall to use it often.

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It’s good to hear talks about improving the Cebu North Bus Terminal (CNBT), especially if one considers what south Cebu commuters have in the Cebu South Bus Terminal (CSBT).

The CNBT, which is being managed by the Cebu City Government, obviously needs improvement, the reason Mayor Michael Rama has expressed openness to the offer by the Provincial Capitol to help upgrade the facility’s services.

I am not surprised by the resistance of north Cebu commuters, however. While the CSBT has a better facility and setup, passengers are paying for the improvement at P5 each in entrance fee. They surely don’t want the add-on to burden them once Capitol is given a say in the CNBT’s management. And what will happen to the terminal employees? A friend who has been working in the facility for 17 years already is worried about the turn of events.

But north Cebu commuters deserve a better depot than the one they have now. The key there is to proceed with the upgrading, while balancing the various interests at play in the facility.

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This is actually not the first time that the name of Rep. Pablo Garcia (Cebu, 2nd district) is being floated as a possible candidate of One Cebu Party for governor. But the most recent mention of his name is beginning to sound compelling. As things stand now, no other Garcia aside from Gov. Gwen Garcia has a better chance of deflecting the formidable challenge of the Liberal Party in the province’s politics than her father.

The problem with the earlier scenario presented on Pabling running is that Gwen, who is prevented by term limits to make another run for governor in 2013, is supposed to run for vice governor. If both win, according to the scenario, Pabling will back off, allowing Gwen to assume the post of governor again, evading the diktat of term limits.

I always thought that the scenario is stretching things too far. And it does not make the governor look good. So if Pabling runs for governor, I think the better move is for Gwen to run for senator, a rather formidable challenge, or run for Congress in the second district replacing her father. I don’t think Gwen will be challenged if she takes the second option.

Things, of course, are still fluid and many things can still happen from now until the deadline of the filing of the certificates of candidacy late this year.
   
(khanwens@yahoo.com)