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Sunday, July 01, 2007
Cardinal Vidal asks Cebu leaders to play fair
* Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal pleads for ‘reason, civility’, warns against loss of public’s trust when leaders ‘act unreasonably’
* Prelate’s message strikes a somber note, as Cebu’s top officials take oath amid fanfare
* Vice President Noli de Castro also advises local officials ‘to start rebuilding bridges for the common good’
CEBU CITY -- Cebu Archbishop Ricardo Cardinal Vidal missed Saturday’s mass before the oath-taking of the Capitol officials, but managed to get his message across.
He expressed his hope that they will “be guided always by reason and exercise power with civility,” as he asked them to focus on resolving differences “for the common good.”
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It appeared to be a thinly veiled reference to ongoing disagreements between Cebu Governor Gwendolyn Garcia and Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña, who both began a new three-year term Saturday.
The archbishop, who has previously called for a ceasefire, has not been given an official venue where he can mediate between the two outspoken executives.
“All democratic processes must follow the rules of rational behavior and fair play,” he said in the message he sent. “This is not only true in the art of governance, this is true even in the most basic human relations.”
“It is not fair, for example to involve another who is not part of the original debate. When leaders act unreasonably, citizens lose their trust and would rather seek to prosper elsewhere, where rules are respected and leaders are more reasonable,” the archbishop also said.
Both Garcia and Osmeña have previously said there was no reason to worry about their spats, as they only have their constituents’ best interests at heart.
As she took her oath of office for her second term Saturday, Governor Garcia still vowed to go on recovering Province-owned lots in the city of Cebu and “meet any kind of resistance head-on.”
She vowed to “stand up to face those who would deprive the people of the province of their due, for the narrow political and financial interests of a few.”
The governor intends to push for the declaration of the entire Province of Cebu as a special economic zone, for greater flexibility in terms of offering incentives to investors.
Another project on the drawing boards is the Trans-axial Highway, a 400-kilometer road connecting the southernmost tip of mainland Cebu to its northernmost tip. It is a brainchild of reelected Vice Gov. Gregorio Sanchez Jr.
Garcia was also proud to announce during her inaugural speech yesterday that the Province of Cebu remains debt-free.
Three Garcias took their oath of office Saturday before Vice President Noli de Castro. Aside from the governor, her father Pablo began his term as congressman of the second district, while her brother Pablo John took oath as representative of the third district.
In his speech, de Castro called for unity and urged officials “to start rebuilding bridges for the common good” and not be side-tracked by partisan politics.
It was also de Castro who administered Garcia’s oath of office during her first term that began in 2004.
After taking oath, Governor Garcia then administered the oath of office of Sanchez and 10 Provincial Board (PB) members: the opposition’s Victoria Corominas (third district), along with administration allies Juan Bolo and Julian Daan (first district); Wilfredo Caminero and Peter John Calderon (second district); Cesar Ian Zambo (third district); Agnes Magpale and Judy Durano (fifth district); and Victor Maambong and Wenceslao Gakit (sixth district).
Yesterday’s activity began with a mass officiated by Msgr. Cris Garcia, in lieu of Cardinal Vidal.
“Lead Cebu to greater heights, where no one’s concern is left behind and no one’s interest is put ahead,” the archbishop said in his message. (MBG of Sun.Star Cebu)
(July 01, 2007 issue)
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