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Thursday, August 31, 2006
Editorials: Mango Square dilemma
Owners of Mango Square has the right to try to deflect the threat of the Cebu City Government to close the mall for violations of the building code and other observed sins.
If they believe that the establishments in the area didn’t do grievous things, then they can use all the legal resources at their disposal to defend their position.
Besides, it is not often that a place becomes a destination of choice of many customers at night, which is saying that the mall must have gotten the right business mix.
Because of that, letting go is surely difficult.
Fairness
Consider, too, fairness.
Mango Square is certainly not the only area in the city where establishments violated some provisions of the building code or where the following acts were reported: brawls, drunkenness, prostitution, lewd shows, etc.
When you feel like you are being singled out, it is but natural to go on a warpath.
One can even ask why concerned government agencies have allowed the violations and objectionable acts to persist, with City
Hall acting only when the situation seemed to have gone out of hand.
Criticisms
In deciding to fight, however, Mango Square must consider some points.
It should, for example, note the criticisms not only of Mayor Tomas Osmeña but more so the public that seem to have been fed up by the seeming anarchy reported there.
While the mall has found the right mixture in attracting clientele, objectionable acts committed there could be proof that it is biting more than it can chew and that it can no longer rein in the excesses.
Because of this, the complaints have mounted and these mostly come from well-meaning citizens and not of competitors jealous of Mango Square’s success.
Profitability
Soon, the negative vibration will affect not only the establishments that are subject of the complaint but also those who are honestly doing business in the mall.
The worst thing to happen is when important tenants will be fed up with the noise and transfer to less tumultuous surrounding.
Which means that whatever profitability may have been gained initially may vanish with the continued indifference to the criticisms.
Finally, there’s the saying that you cannot fight City Hall, especially when public opinion is on its side.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (August 31, 2006 issue)
Write letter to the editor.Click here.
Join the Sun.Star message board.Click here. |
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