|
Thursday, May 11, 2006
Editorials: Mandaue’s bid
There’s more to the worry of Mayor Tomas Osmeña over Mandaue City’s South Reclamation Area than just the possibility investors might confuse it with Cebu City’s South Reclamation Project (SRP).
The repackaging by Mandaue of its reclaimed area is part of an overall effort to compete with its more illustrious neighbor in spurring the city’s economic growth.
What obviously concerns Osmeña is that Mandaue’s initiative is being done at this critical stage when the city is luring investors to the SRP.
Different situation
Unfortunately for Osmeña, times have changed.
Unlike before when most economic activity emanated from the center, meaning Cebu City, urban growth has spread to other Metro Cebu areas, notably in Lapu-Lapu and Mandaue Cities.
Osmeña may not admit it, but the SRP was apparently conceived to direct back to Cebu City the investment route.
The problem is that, unlike in the past, other local government units are no longer just passive players and many government officials have learned to make use of whatever advantage they have over Cebu City to attain growth.
Suddenly aggressive
Mandaue City is a good example of this.
Development in its South Reclamation Area, dubbed New Mandaue City, have been slow until it linked up with the Provincial Capitol for the construction of the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC), venue of the Asean Summit this December.
This has sparked a new wave of optimism that has become the engine of the suddenly aggressive effort to speed up the area’s growth.
New Mandaue City has provided Cebu City with a stiff competition.
Coordinating growth
Indeed, it would have been good to have a Metro Cebu body that will coordinate development efforts, as some sectors have suggested, but such a body should be composed of equals.
That can only be achieved if the other areas catch up with Cebu City, or at the very least not lag too far behind to be disrespected.
It is in this context that Mandaue City’s development thrust and the continuing growth of Lapu-Lapu City should find meaning.
Blackout jitters
The blackout that hit the Visayas following the mild earthquake in the main power source in Leyte has exposed one flaw of power interconnection. This should prod policy makers to map out contingencies in case a similar situation, or even worse, happens again in the future.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (May 11, 2006 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
|
