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Saturday, January 14, 2006
Libre: Fear of being an outcast
By Mel Libre
Seriously Now
The latest outcast in Tomas Osmena’s fiefdom is Jonathan Guardo, erstwhile Cebu point man of the Southeast Asian Games 2005 and resigned chairman of the Cebu City Sports Commission. Guardo was Tomas’ nino bonito until the falling out because of Guardo’s public statement on the handling of the funds for the Games’ hosting.
Of course, there have been other victims of Osmena’s brand of leadership, like Sammy Darza, City Hall employees who are Talisay City residents and those associated with former ally-turned-enemy Alvin Garcia.
When he was first crowned mayor, Tomas endeared himself to the citizenry with his ability to make things move. But we cannot say that it was solely a Tomas affair because some of the better legislators and capable administrators were with his team then.
They did their share in putting sanity in traffic, promoting professionalism among City Hall employees, and improving public and social services. The effort brought Cebu City to new heights, obtaining high ratings in surveys of the best cities in Asia conducted by independent bodies and publications.
But that was before. Cebu City has lost some of its glitter, no thanks to a mayor who seems to have lost focus on what he wants for himself, for his constituents and for his city.
Just look around. Cebu is not generally a tidy city, although there is utmost effort by the Parks and Playgrounds Commission to make it green. Collection of garbage is wanting despite the increase in fees to landowners and commercial establishments. There are certain places, especially in the downtown area, where the air is a poisonous mix of the smell of urine, filth and rubbish.
Driving around city streets remains hazardous, with errant drivers claiming the thoroughfares as their own backyards. Pickpockets, ambulant vendors, beggars, drug pushers, pimps and prostitutes ply their trade almost undisturbed in areas known to everyone except the police. Vigilantes, with the implied blessing of Tomas, hunt down alleged criminals.
And what do we hear? With the Asean summit to be held in Cebu in the latter part of 2006, Tomas wants to pursue “cosmetic” improvements. In a way, it is a term close to “Imeldific,” or of former First Lady Imelda Marcos covering up squatter colonies with tall fences to hide these from the view of foreign dignitaries, tourists and visitors.
Cebu City badly needs substantive, not “cosmetic” improvements. That is the role of the mayor, his council and his administration with or without the Asean summit. But nobody in the mayor’s current team, not the vice-mayor or any of his councillors, would dare tell Tomas what needs to be done. No one is willing to earn the ire of the mayor and become an outcast like Guardo.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (January 14, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
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