Shared problems and solutions

The appeal by Cebu’s business community for Metro Cebu mayors to get their act together and work for a common solution to shared problems like traffic and flooding seems most feasible now with a change in administration in Cebu City and the Province.

The re-election of the usually friendly and cooperative Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama in lieu of the more combative — some say dictatorial—Rep. Tomas Osmena , and the entry of Governor-elect Hilario “Junjun” Davide III instead of Rep. Pablo John Garcia, who’s seen as an extension of outgoing Cebu Gov. Gwendolyn Garcia, is bound to clear the air of animosity and distrust that has pervaded relations between Cebu City and the Capitol in the past decade.

While Osmeña focused on the South Road Properties (SRP) and poked fun at Garcia’s “reign of darkness” in the countryside, the governor focused on building her own legacy projects like the Cebu International Convcention Center and the Balili property which are now being investigated by the Ombudsman and the Sandiganbayan for alleged irregularities.

While legacy projects are overshadowed by the ego of public officials involved, the programs which the business community, specifically those in the Mega Cebu movement, are clamoring for are what ordinary Cebuanos have long been seeking – relief from traffic, flooding, pollution, crime, the high cost of living , etc.

These are the kind of projects and concerns that Rama and Davide should give their attention to, as they publicly declared their commitment to consensus-building and participatory governance during their election campaigns.

Davide, in particular, has a crucial role in stopping the migration of rural Cebuanos to the metropolis which has led to congestion in cities of Cebu, Mandaue and Lapu-Lapu and the overcrowding of settlers in the Mahiga Creek and other waterways.

Other metro cities like Talisay can also do its part.

Incoming Talisay City Mayor JV delos Reyes pledged to pursue employment for his constituents, who include migrants from other parts of Cebu province. Talisay city, with over 200,000 residents, is the most populous component city in Cebu province.

No matter how extensive and large the funding and planning goes to drainage and traffic systems, if the Capitol doesn’t fuel economic growth in the countryside through agriculture, tourism and infrastructure, Metro Cebu will continue to be overcrowded, its resources strained by inward migration of people coming to the city looking for jobs.

Solving poverty, not politics, should be the main preoccupation of Metro Cebu leaders as soon as they assume office on June 30.