Seares: Not a bird, not Superman; just a City Hall plane

CEBU City leaders themselves list the reasons the City Government shouldn't buy three aging (over 40 years) Helio planes Department of Education (DepEd) is trying to unload.

Floor price is about P4.7 million, a hefty sum the City can use for, say, finally filling some street potholes. Of three planes, only one will fly, for which parts from the two others will be "cannibalized".

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Use and upkeep will require "highly specialized" procedure and technicians, with the parts not readily available, DepEd itself warns in its invitation to bid.

The City will use the plane for search and rescue in mountains and seas, says Vice Mayor Joy Young who stumbled on the idea while working non-legislatively as education czar.

How often will such emergency arise? Besides, for the crisis Vice Joy has in mind, they have Air Force, Coast Guard, Army, and other government agencies whose tasks include providing aircraft, equipment, and people.

Bragging rights

Representative Tomas Osmeña sees "no critical need" for the planes but deems it "good opportunity" if DepEd donates the aircraft. DepEd may not donate or barter.

And why should it agree on a swap of planes with schoolhouses when the City is obliged to build them anyway and DepEd can raise cash from the sale? It shouldn't, unless the planes are lemon and potential scrap.

Tomas says it is "capriccio," a prank, whim, or caprice. It's for the city-second-to-none "bragging rights."

So, Tomas and Joy can strut and puff. And Mike can sing his favorite songs while up in the air--but his show band can't fly with him.

(paseares@yahoo.com)