Monday, January 28, 2008 Mongaya: Small town mindset By Anol Mongaya Panahom
WHY protest the conversion of new cities for the reduction of their internal revenue allotment (IRA)? Why prevent the growth of communities into cities? Mayors of existing cities should instead push for a bigger pie instead of lamenting their smaller shares.
Perhaps Toledo City Mayor Arlene Zambo and company should plan how to get a much bigger share of the IRA next year. Moreover, they should begin stimulating economic growth to increase the tax base in their respective cities to lessen dependence on the national government.
After all, cities are supposedly urban hubs of economic activities. The mayors should stimulate and manage growth accordingly, not rely on national government assistance. Di ba pang-small town ra ning magsalig sa IRA, mayor?
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Mayor Zambo should instead look forward to the planned three power plants in Toledo City as a possible driver of further growth aside from the reopening of the mines in Lutopan.
Moreover, Toledo City should capitalize on being one of the links to Negros Oriental for stimulating tourism-oriented businesses and for inter-island trade so it wouldn’t be like before when it relied only on the Atlas mines.
As it is, the construction and operation of the three coal-fired plants should provide Toledo City’s coffers and economy the needed shot in the arm.
Judging from the good press the plants are getting, we can say that my friend Jonji Gonzales has done his homework.
However, it could also be that local environmentalist, after losing against the Korean plants in Naga, are clueless on how to approach the planned coal-fired plants in Toledo City.
Armand Perez of Bayan Muna said they have conducted a dialogue with Mayor Zambo. After being told that the mayor supports the project, my cause-oriented colleagues should be plotting their next moves by now.
One thing going for the cause-oriented groups should be the remnants of the former mass base of the once powerful union in Lutopan. It is also near the Left strongholds in Cebu’s mid-north.
Meanwhile, the technical people should also convince us lay mortals that Chinese coal-fired technology is equal or better than Korean technology that Bayan Muna allies had been very vocal against.
Whatever, the power plants should assure us ordinary Cebuanos that power supply won’t be a problem. My only concern is: will the influx of more power plants result in cheaper electricity? Ang kuyaw kon momahal hinuon.
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With the Department of Public Works and Highways hell bent on carrying out the Banilad-Talamban flyover, commuters should begin avoiding this part of the city for the next few months. The traffic in the already congested road is at least crawling like a sleepy turtle these days.
With the flyover construction, the traffic in the area will worsen exponentially. It will further adversely affect the already congested Hernan Cortes and M.J. Cuenco Roads in Mandaue City. Saun na lang.
(Check out my blog “In Between Columns” at anol.blogs.friendster.com/anols_blog)
