Tuesday, August 07, 2007 Seares: If only they could stand each other By Pachico A. Seares News Sense
SINCE the Tom and Gwen show has gone on the road, after a dispute over land swap escalated to cover almost any issue now, some people enjoy comparing the skills of Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña and Cebu Gov. Gwen Garcia.
Coffeeshop idlers began with the two local leaders’ looks. No contest: Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s perpetual scowl and increasing girth count him out as ad model for any product, except maybe beer and pasta.
And on being cool. Tomas also lags behind Gwen, whose outbursts are still outnumbered by moments of sweetness and grace.
Raising money
How about their ability to raise money for their governments’ till? Tomas appears to lead Gwen there.
The mayor virtually twists the arm of affluent taxpayers. He shames with his “kalabasa” award and flatters with his “adopted son” titles. He scares by threats of banning company promos in his city and lures with discounts on taxes they feel they shouldn’t be paying at all. But they pay.
The SRP debt millstone is not about to drop from the city’s neck. Yet, City Hall is also nowhere near bankruptcy. Keeping the City afloat speaks volumes for the mayor’s skill.
And the governor? She has been relying on Capitol’s vaunted multibillion-peso surplus, which her predecessor dad started.
An efficient fiscal policy, however, has kept the pile, which can grow larger with Gwen’s moves towards using Province properties for business ventures with private investors.
Both Tomas and Gwen are apparently a whiz at raising and managing money. They could be excellent partners in “moving Cebu forward.”
If only they could stand each other in the same room.
