After “suffering for the past 40 years” amid rising poverty in Cebu, “we need new leaders with vision,” said businessman Gordon Alan Joseph who opened the first leg of the Mega Cebu Candidates’ fora yesterday.
Four mayoral candidates from Tal isay and Carcar cities and the town of San Fernando gave it their best shot.
The biggest ideas for growth came from the oldest, longest-serving incumbent official.
“Cebu is great despite and in spite of politicians,” said 82-year-old Rep. Eduardo Gullas in the Cebu Cultural Center in the UP Cebu campus.
He named his top three infrastructure goals as aspiring mayor of Talisay city.
*To finish the ongoing widening of the Cebu South Road from two lanes to four lanes;
*To build a “third connection” between Cebu mainland and Mactan to ease traffic; and
*To open A Light Rail Transit (LRT) to carry passengers from Mandaue City to Carcar in the south, with another line north to Sogod town.
The projects all require national funding and spill beyond the boundaries of Talisay and a mayor’s three-year term.
“Samsam will have to continue this,” said Gullas, referring to his 27-year-old grandson Gerald Anthony, who is running unopposed for Gullas’ congressional seat.
KILLING TREES
Gullas had to fend off questions about the destruction of century-old acacia tress along the scenic southern highway, the dynasty issue, his advanced age, and Talisay City’s ‘bad boy’ Joavan Fernandez, adopted son of the current mayor who is his loyal ally.
The forum’s first round of candidates were invited from Cebu’s 1st district in the east coast – Talisay, Naga, Carcar, Minglanilla and San Fernando.
The need to choose leaders who can “transcend elections and political ties” and coordinate growth in 13 Metro Cebu towns and cities was emphasized by Joseph, a core member of the Mega Cebu movement.
Joseph said Cebu is attracting many investors but is “sitting on opportunities” to be more competitive even as it “has the highest incidence of poverty”, which he attributed to poor political leadership, which makes the May election a crucial exercise.
The forum mounted by the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation Inc. (RAFI) and private sector partners, including Cebu Daily News, asked candidates to name their top three to five action plans or priorities if they get elected on May 13.
A buzzer marked a three-minute limit for their opening remarks and microphones went dead when guests went over time.
Questions came from a six-member multi-sectoral panel and at large from the audience in the Cebu Cultural Center and online followers on Twitter, Facebook and cellphone users.
CARCAR CITY
Reelectionist Carcar Mayor Nicepuro Apura said he wanted to develop the southern city into a commercial hub but still maintain its standing as a “heritage city” with turn of the century buildings, and a green canopy of trees along the highway.
“I will do everything within my scope of authority as a local official. I will not have a single tree cut,” Apura said when asked about the tradeoff by a pnaleist.
In his opening remarks, though, he welcomed the Gullas-sponsored South Road expansion, saying this would surely bring growth to Carcar.
The ongoing road widening from barangay Tinaan in Naga City to San Fernando is a legacy project of Gullas. But trees along the way are being marked for removal to the dismay of environment and heritage advocates.
Carcar’s illegal drug problem and flooding were raised in the open forum. Apura said all localities wrestle with the drug scourge, which needs “everyone’s help” to solve. He also said his administration is drawing up a comprehensive drainage plan.
Reluya, a former San Fernando mayor, said she valued bottoms-up planning and education, where schools would be linked to the job market.
She said San Fernando could supply manpower from their graduates.
“We involve people in the crafting of their goals so that they wil take pride in implementing them,” she said.
Lawyer Mariano Alegarbes, independent candidate for Carcar mayor, said change should start at home through “responsible parenthood” and more job opportunities so that parents don’t have to leave their families while they seek greener pastures abroad.
He said he would strive to improve the economy by espousing cooperatives and education access for all.
DYNASTY
With two grandsons in their 20s running for public office, Rep. Gullas said “it’s up to the people to decide” whether they deserve to win.
Asked about the dynasty issue, Gullas said he wants Congress to define “political dynasty” as mandated by the 1987 Constitution and that he would welcome it.
His grandson Gerald Anthony, a neophyte, is running unopposed for his congressional seat. to take his seat. (Samsam declined the invitation to yesterday’s candidates’ forum, citing a schedule conflict.)
Another grandson, Eduardo “Digul” Gullas III, is seeking for re-election as councilor in Talisay City.
“I hope the 16th congress will define political dynasty but I think if the people do not want you in your community, you will be rejected. It is still the people who decide,” Gullas said.
Gullas said his growth plans including a new reclamation project in Talisay City for a Talisay special economic zone. A waste disposal site similar to that shared by Naga City and Minglanilla town is also on his mind.
Asked about the “traffic chaos” in the national highway in Tabunok, he said this was why the public market was transferred away from the poblacion.
“It’s on an experimental basis and they’re doing very well. I want Talisay City to have the same setup. I transferred the public market to Tabunok precisely to divert traffic congestion in the city,” he said.
Gordon Alan Joseph, president of the Cebu Business Club, in his opening statement that Cebu needs visionary leaders.
“Leaders should work together with a vision that will transcend elections, political ties and have the courage, vision, technical planning, global competence to lead. Philippines is a great nation of great people but unfortunately has suffered because of poor leadership in the last 40 years. We need new leaders with a new vision,” Joseph said.
Round two of the Mega Cebu Candidates Fora will invite mayor and congressional candidates of the 5th district, 6th district and Lapu-Lapu City on April 19 at the same venue.