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Saturday, September 21, 2002
EDITORIAL: Political will
The demolition of the stalls of the members of the Sto. Niño Sidewalk Vendors Association (SNSVA) has been used by some sectors as proof that Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña really has political will.
This line, in a sense, is a continuation of the myth Osmeña’s spin-doctors wrapped him with in the last elections to shield him from a very relevant critique of his leadership style: his being arrogant and high-handed.
Generally, leaders with political will are admired for their willingness to make decisions and implement these no matter how unpopular these maybe. But that admiration presupposes that the decisions are fair and arrived at honestly.
Without fairness and honest intention, these decisions can only be ruthless and devious, and is therefore not within the realm of the ideal political will.
This is the reason why it is difficult for some well-meaning observers to immediately jump to their feet and clap their hands just because the mayor showed some determination in ordering the demolition of the stalls of the recalcitrant sidewalk vendors.
There is not much debate on the need to put order in the city’s streets and of government’s power to do this. Sidewalk vending must be stopped or at the very least regulated because the public has the right to use the sidewalks, too.
But in the case of the vendors along the Osmeña Blvd. side of the Basilica del Sto. Niño, some troubling points hamper many people’s full appreciation of the mayor’s effort to demolish the stalls.
Consider fairness.
Members of SNSVA are not the only sidewalk vendors doing their thing in the city. And in the area surrounding the Basilica, other illegal structures exist, including the one built by Osmeña’s supporter, Conchita Tan. So why the obsession with SNSVA?
That question can well be answered if we consider intention.
It certainly was not just coincidence that together with the decision of the mayor to demolish the stalls along Osmeña Blvd. was the order for the vendors to transfer to the D. Jakosalem St. side of the Basilica.
It certainly was not coincidence that during the negotiations Tan suddenly entered into the picture and, with lightning speed, initiated the construction of stalls in D. Jakosalem to be leased at steep price to the transferring vendors.
Indeed, when you look at the whole episode again, you can already find the answer to the oft-repeated question: Why is the mayor so obsessed with the stalls along the Osmeña Blvd. side of the Basilica?
In short, what the demolition amounted to was not political will. It was pure ruthlessness and deviousness. To believe otherwise would be to fall for the myth created by the mayor’s spin-doctors.
Jigsaw puzzle
Earlier, some people raised the possibility Mayor Tomas Osmeña merely used his issuance of a demolition order on the stalls owned by his supporter Conchita Tan to win public sympathy for his assault on the stalls along the Osmeña Blvd. side of the Basilica.
The possibility has gotten real by the day.
Just observe Tan’s maneuvering and the sudden mellowing of the mayor’s stance (so where’s the political will now?) regarding the demolition of the D. Jakosalem stalls. It looks like the pieces of the jigsaw puzzle are now falling into place.
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