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?