Sunday, July 06, 2008 Mercado: Spitting on graves By Juan L. Mercado Sidebar
CEBU again failed to bag a slot among the “best Philippine cities” in Asian Institute Management’s (AIM) latest survey. Why?
Top three in “quality of life” were: Makati for the metros, Cabanatuan among “mid-size” cities and Tagbilaran in the “juniors.” Of today’s 132 cities, 90 were surveyed.
“Quality of life” determines well-being of people, peace and stability, environment and local amenities, AIM’s 5th Philippine Cities Competitiveness Ranking survey said.
Unlike its previous surveys, AIM didn’t rank cities by total performance. All three were cited for curbing crime and “informal fees” (baksheesh or bribes), reliable supply of safe water, environmental planning and management programs.
Innovative programs, like Makati’s Command Center, and Satellite Real Property Tax collection, got thumbs up.
Other metro cities that performed well were: Davao, Makati, Marikina, Manila, Lapu-Lapu and Quezon. In contrast, Cebu didn’t even rate a mention. We also didn’t squeeze into the “magic circle” last year.
Wa manimaho is Cebuano street argot for tailenders. So, Mayor Tomas Osmeña’s boast --“We are second to none”— rings hollow. Again, why?
By “happenstance,” AIM survey results were released when Metro Cebu Water District (MCWD) board of directors published full-page ads on their “new day and new way.”
Scan that ad. It indicates some reasons for Cebu slipshod performance. After all, water ensures what cities grow, like Singapore. Or they collapse from its lack as did India’s Faithphurshakri.
MCWD’s directors say current supply of water is only 170,000 cubic meters daily. They’ll scrounge for 80,000 cm. daily, come 2010.
This is a “mirror and smoke” device. It implicitly recognizes a serious water crunch. But it does not contradict their boss Mayor Osmeña to his face. “There is no water problem,” Osmeña claims.
A denial syndrome, however, is no substitute for policy. Worse, it flies in the teeth of what scientists and people report.
Asian Development Bank and US Aid note Cebu’s aquifers are “mined” by twice their recharge. Saltwater intrusion now brushes against Cebu’s foothills. Wells are turning brackish, people say. And water levels have slumped.
“This contamination will increase groundwater salinity in MCWD wells beyond permissible levels (250 mg. CL/liter),” the Hamman report said in 1995. “In due course this will render groundwater non-potable…and cause a water crisis in Cebu.”
City Hall, meanwhile, did nothing. Now, MCWD’s directors peg their aim as “no connection will receive less than 12 hours of daily service.” Got that?
In the 21st century, water from Cebu taps will flow for 12 hours. That places us on a par with Zimbabwe or Chad.
Water availability in Makati and Tagbilaran is 24 hours. Manila’s access to 24 hour water supply rose from 26 percent in 1997 to 94 percent in 2005. Singapore, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Seoul take all-day water for granted.
Waterless taps are inevitable in Cebu. It has been denied new supplies.
Mayor Osmeña objected to tapping abundant surface water, say from Badian or Carmen. Instead, MCWD will spur drilling – but into the same overstretched source: Cebu aquifers. This is a formula for ecological bankruptcy.
“MCWD director Joel Mari Yu is primarily responsible for these initiatives,” the add stresses. Now, Mr. Yu is a man of many talents ---the greatest of which is murmuring amen to the mayor’s brainstorms.
We wish Mr. Yu well. That includes settling what the Commission on Audit gripes is failure to liquidate cash advances to Cebu Investments and Promotion Center (CIPC). CIPC failed to market Mayor Osmeña’s South Road Property lots so far.
A wrecked water source spells death to a city. And those who bring it on court the ancient Asian curse: “May your grandchildren spit on your graves.”
