Friday, February 23, 2007
Seares: ‘Done deal’
By Pachico A. Seares
News Sense
THERE'S this story that after studying in detail a contract for a TV program, Bishop Fulton J. Sheen (author, broadcaster, educator), came to conclude: "The big print giveth and the fine print taketh away."
In the raging controversy over lots swapping between Cebu City Hall and the Capitol, there's nothing in print, big or fine. There's no contract yet.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña talks of "usapang lalake" or agreement between men. Is that insensitivity to women? Crude flattery to Gwen? Whatever, no fixed terms and conditions yet. Only proposals in the air, still to be caught on paper and to undergo process.
Not their fault
The process is approval or ratification by the City Council and in the Province by the Provincial Board.
Even rubber stamp legislatures have a process. It was doing the process when City Council sniffed traces of "dawat-limpyo" that Vice Mayor Mike Rama and the councilors thought might cheat the City.
Provincial Board, in its own process, examined the plan and saw that P3 billion Capitol properties would be traded for a P400 million City lot.
Neither Council nor Board is to blame for looking closely. They are just protecting their respective constituents.
That the City is blackmailing Capitol for them to go to the negotiating table knocks down any claim of a done deal.
A must: Don't go to that table with a metaphorical shotgun or a Glock. And, yes, check oversize egos at the door.
For Bisaya stories from Cebu. Click here. (February 23, 2007 issue)
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