Fussing over who gets credit for roads, Ironman

WHEN Cebu City's rival politicians Michael Rama and Tomas Osmeña quarrel over public works projects, that doesn't surprise Cebuanos. What does: if the local titans don't claw at each other.

They now tangle over P227.9 million worth of road widening and repair: funds were sourced by Tomas but it's the mayor's streets--and whom will voters thank for the work?

Unlike movie actors who bicker over whose name should come first or in bigger type, politicos view credits in terms of votes to gain or lose.

When Lapu-Lapu City fretted, though not noisily, over credits for Cebu's hosting of Ironman Philippines 70.3, Capitol retorted that it did a lot more than gave a dinner for tri-athletes.

Coordination among four cities and the Province apparently didn't include specifics on what each had to do. Media reporting also didn't define the hosting structure: people didn't know which LGU was lead agency though most publicity focused on Lapu-Lapu City. Even visiting athletes were clueless about who were responsible for the sports event's success.

But does it matter? It does, to hardworking politicians.

Who's 'boss'

Organizer Sunrise Events, Inc. must be unfamiliar with dynamics of the local leadership. There's no single leader in Cebu but disparate clusters of leaders whose interests and characters clash.

No Metro Cebu Authority, a plan shot down when a politician made it clear he didn't want a rival public official to "boss" him around. Identifying whom to applaud or blame for Ironman would've been easier.

(paseares@gmail.com)