SOME residents in Cebu City were not satisfied with Mayor Michael Rama's State of the City Address (Soca), saying the local chief executive failed to address the major issues the city is facing like flooding, livelihood, and water security.
Myrna Chiangco, a resident from Barangay Lahug, said Rama's statements did not address the main issues the city has been facing for years.
"Singapore-like Cebu City ang ganahan ni mayor pero unsaon man pagka in-ana kung example, kada muuwan ug kusog, grabe kaayong baha kay wa gihapo'y tarong ang drainage system," Chiangco said.
(The mayor wants Cebu City to be Singapore-like, but how can that be when Cebu City’s streets are always flooded every after heavy rains because there is no proper drainage system.)
"Open more roads daw unya ang mga roads naa ron pirmi gibaha," she added.
(He said open more roads, but the roads are flooded.)
A street cleaner from Cebu City Hall who refused to be named also shared her dissatisfaction with Rama’s Soca, saying the mayor did not discuss further the main problems in the city.
The street cleaner also questioned City Hall's priorities.
"Ang pangbuhaton nuon nila kay mag pintal-pintal og mga poste, or mag-himo og mga design-design diras Carbon imbis solusyonan nang mga dagkong problema," she said.
(They paint lampposts or make designs at Carbon (Market) instead of providing solutions to the bigger issues.)
Zed Castro, a senior citizen who lives in Barangay Labangon, wished that Rama would be able to stand by his words when preaching about a Singapore-like Cebu City.
"He keeps bragging about Singapore-like Cebu City. Dako-dako jud nag trabahuon (That’s a big task). I just wish he does his work," Castro said.
Castro was looking for more from Rama's Soca.
"Pag June 15 biya niingon siya nga inig Soca kay i-tackle niya aside atong isyu sa CCMC, katong housing, livelihood, transportation, kanang mga butanga niya di lagi kumpleto?" he said.
(On June 15, he said that on his Soca, he will be tackling issues aside from the one on Cebu City Medical Center, including housing, livelihood and transportation, but why it isn’t complete?)
Disappointed with Rama's speech, a senior citizen from Cebu City expressed his sentiments.
“Ang iyang mga plano kunohay gipakita ra sa video, wala na siya ga-istorya. Nindot nga nakahuna-huna sab siya aning problema sa tubig diri sa Cebu pero hinaot mas nag tutok unta siya pa jud sa mga problema sa Sugbo dili kay nag storya pa sa laing walay lami nga butang,” she said.
(Plans were only made visible through videos, not in speech. It's good to hear that he is addressing the water issue in Cebu, but he should have more to say and more ideas on how to fix the other significant issues here rather than just babbling gibberish.)
A mother of two, living in Barangay Mabolo, Cebu City, is hopeful that Rama fulfills his promises for a better and improved Cebu. (Miguel Angelu Lumen and Angel Leduna, CNU Interns)