Saturday, May 10, 2008 Speak out: Mayor’s lament By Sam D. Uday Guadalupe, Cebu City
YOU know it’s almost election season when you read politicians starting to blame others for their shortcomings.
We read with amusement Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s lament on the dismal performance of the Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) and its tragic failure of mandate.
What he did not reveal to the Cebuanos is who has been appointing the members of the Board of Directors of MCWD.
Indeed, Osmeña has given away MCWD directorships to political allies not unlike any other traditional politician distributing largesse to loyal lieutenants.
Unfortunately for the water consumers of Cebu, not all of the appointees are up to the job.
A director is, for most part of the day, busy fending off credit collectors and their kinds who have been trying in vain to collect the heaping debts accumulated.
Another director is obediently following the wishes of the spouse and is more interested in the supply contracts of the water district.
Another director has his hands full calling on favorite contractors and suppliers of MCWD for advance commissions.
And what about the man himself who called the kettle back?
Definitely, MCWD officials are not the only ones to blame for the repeated failures in consummating big-ticket projects by blue-chip companies.
Only recently, Ayala’s Carmen project was cancelled even after MCWD spent hundreds of thousands of US dollars for consultancy fees only to reject as well, the recommendations of its own consultants.
Why? Because he wanted his “friends” instead to corner the project. Tsk tsk tsk!
And Mr. Mayor is wondering why MCWD is failing its mandate?
Please, give the thirsty Cebuanos a break, Mr. Lousy Appointing Power!
