|
Thursday, August 25, 2005
Wenceslao: Osmeña’s gambit
By Bong O. Wenceslao
It’s good that the Cebu City Government has raised to the court its question on Congress’ approval of the city-hood of neighboring Talisay.
This way, the issue will be resolved with finality and put to rest. But don’t be fooled by the theatrics of Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who signed the petition in front of reporters. That’s but propaganda.
Actually, this is not about getting even at Talisay, which staked a claim to a portion of the South Reclamation Project (SRP). This is about Osmeña deflecting to a neighbor the blame for the money problem Cebu City is experiencing. Consider: the signing of the petition was made after Cebu City officials admitted City Hall’s financial woes.
The problem of paying the loan for the SRP stems not mainly from Talisay’s claim that supposedly delayed the titling of the lots. The real reason is that Osmeña failed to reckon with the peso slide that had the loan ballooning from P2.8 billion in 1995 to P6.3 billion today. The main culprit is Osmeña’s lack of foresight, not Talisay’s claim.
***
If there is a conflict approaching the intensity of the Cebu City-Talisay row, it is the one involving the Capitol on one side and political detainees and militant groups on the other. It not only has heated up, it has become laughable. Consider the verbal war that erupted after the inmates went on a fast to protest their treatment at the provincial jail.
Instead of tackling the legitimacy of the inmates’ complaint, the exchange is centered on whether the prisoners are really fasting or not. I think the important matter there is whether the detainees were deprived of their basic rights--after all, they are human beings and have not yet been convicted of the crimes they are charged with.
***
I just received an email from a Vincent Lim, who read my articles about Camotes, the home place of my parents. He said he is not from that place but visited it many years ago. “I too was enchanted by the island’s incomparable beauty,” he noted. He added that the first time he set foot on the island, he was enthralled.
But there’s a catch there. Mr. Lim said that in that first visit, a Gloria Barrientos, acted as his guide. Unfortunately, he lost contact of her. He described her as about 40 years old now and was from “Cascag” in Poro town (must be Cagcagan, not Cascag). “Please help me contact her. I will be forever grateful,” he pleaded.
TEXTREAX. From a texter, who reacted to my column about those erring drivers of south Cebu-bound minibuses: “We need the support of government and the public, especially the media, to discipline those drivers.”
(khanwens@yahoo.com/0927-2055064)
(August 25, 2005 issue)
Write letter to the editor. Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board. Click here. |
|
[return to top]
[home]
[network page]
|
LOCAL NEWS
BUSINESS
OPINION
SPORTS
LIFESTYLE
FEATURE
SUPERBALITA
WEEKEND
|
