What can we expect with the change of administration in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Cebu Province on Monday, June 30, 2025? After all, it has been a while since these three local government units were in the hands of another political party or family.
We all know that a neophyte will be running things at the Capitol, while an environmental crusader will be at the helm in Cebu City. As for Mandaue, a familiar name will be making a comeback.
Is change necessarily a good thing? Well, I hope so, for the sake of the people who elected them last May. Need I set the bar high? I don’t think there is any need. We are, after all, in the Philippines, where the line between politics and entertainment is often blurred. Often, a candidate’s chances of winning are based on how well they move, or sing, or how much they shelled out during sorties.
Let’s face it, here in the Philippines, majority of the electorate still harbors an entitled mindset, asking what the country can do for them instead of what they can do for the country. And the candidates oblige them with stopgap solutions to the many ills that plague our society.
Am I a cynic? Having lived in this country for the last three decades, I answer with a resounding “Yes!” But I also happen to be a pragmatist.
Do I think the flooding problem in the cities of Mandaue and Cebu will be solved? They’ve been talking about addressing it as far as I can remember but it resurfaces every time there is a heavy downpour. To be honest, I’m not optimistic, but miracles do happen. And if one does, I think it needs to be verified by the Vatican. So I guess the answer is “No.”
But hey, there’s nothing like a good song and dance to wipe the troubles away. I heard one incoming administration will be staging a concert Monday night. I read that somewhere, so I’m not sure if it’s true. But if it is, I wonder who will be performing?
At any rate, I wish the new officials good luck. And I do wish they deliver on their campaign promises. But who am I kidding? I’m the resident cynic.
I don’t know if they’re cut out for the work ahead of them. Being mayor of a highly urbanized city or governor of a first class province is no easy feat. But let’s give them a chance. It’d be unfair to expect wonders from them immediately.
Pam Baricuatro, the governor-elect, has promised to focus on healthcare. That’s well and good for the residents of the province, but as a resident of Cebu City, I’ll focus on that.
Let’s see. So far, Mayor-elect Nestor Archival has bared his administration’s top priorities, including letting the city library operate 24/7 and fixing the garbage collection system. Given his background as a green crusader, there’s a good chance he might actually succeed. He did say they are eyeing to reduce the volume of garbage sent to landfills by converting waste into fertilizer.
I don’t know how he’ll go about it, but we’ll see. I’m sure he has lots of good ideas, but the question is will these be implemented? Better yet, will the public cooperate? I know we are supposed to segregate our waste, but due diligence always loses out to the unrepentant violators.
As for prioritizing the completion of the Cebu City Medical Center, he absolutely should. I just hope his administration will not just talk about it but actually do it. I mean, how long has it been?
I know I’ve been saying that I’m a cynic, but I’m a hopeless romantic, too.
That’s why, to all the incoming officials out there, I sincerely wish them well. After all, we deserve so much better.