Needed more than ever

With  the South Road Properties (SRP) finally chosen as the venue for the thanksgiving Mass for the celebration of Blessed Pedro Calungsod’s canonization, one would think that the facelifting efforts of the Beautiful Cebu Movement in Fuente Osmeña and downtown Cebu City would be the  least of City Hall’s concerns.

Not so, if you’re among those who feel that more should be done to improve and beautify the Queen City of the South. This is on top of addressing the more critical  needs of adequate drainage, flood control and a  sustainable solid waste  program.

Vandals have preyed on some of the European-styled decorative lampposts which were  paid for by the movement and installed along Osmeña Boulevard.

Some have lost glass cases and bulbs.  One was used to hang a garbage sack. Some  posts went missing.

What a thankless response  for the efforts of private citizens to lift  Cebu City’s largest boulevard from grime and neglect, and to make the city a more liveable place.

It speaks volumes of how much work needs to be done in changing  mindsets of barangay officials, local police, and city residents themselves who should  be looking after these improvements and showing some respect, if not genuine appreciation for efforts to add grace to urban life.

Instead, barangay captains in a recent meeting conveniently blamed the vandalism on nameless street children.

The gracious street lamps and red brick sidewalks, almost 80 percent completed, have cleaned up and brought new hope for  the boulevard.

They don’t wipe out the eyesores  of   dilapidated roads and  uncollected garbage that find their way into clogged canals .

But that’s not their purpose.

The real cleanup  and infrastructure improvement remain  big ticket responsibilities of the local government and the Dept. of Public Works and Highways.

While Mayor Michael Rama did well to invite private sector participation, we think the real goal of the  Beautiful  Cebu movement was to encourage and even inspire ordinary city residents to do their part in showing  Cebu City’s real beauty.

The temporary  setbacks should not deter the movement from pushing on.

If you can’t be proud of your own city, what other home can you brag about?