New day in the Capitol

“You will have an honest Capitol” was the rallying cry of Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III when he took his oath of office at the Capitol Social Hall last Sunday and it sounded like an echo of what President Benigno Aquino III said when he was sworn in as the Chief Executive of the country.

For both men assumed their posts in the wake of administrations that have stayed in power for nearly a decade and in the case of Aquino’s predecessor, have long overstayed its welcome as evidenced by nearly daily protests and daily exposes of corruption that gave rise to several aborted mutinies.

Was it also coincidence that both men’s predecessors left their once lofty positions only to face their own charges of corruption—Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo winning reelection despite being “detained” and confined in hospitals?

We don’t see Rep. Gwendolyn Garcia of Cebu’s 3rd district landing in a hospital or certainly in jail anytime soon though her fiercest critics and political foes would welcome that possibility.

But her status as Cebu’s legislator for the third district, albeit one saddled with corruption cases related to the infamous Balili property purchase and the allegedly overpriced Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) project would be discussed in the days to come.

For now Cebuanos are only too happy and optimistic about a new change of leadership in their Capitol, one that from all appearances isn’t part of a political dynasty that had lorded it over the province like one born of ancient royalty.

Davide’s key words were “good governance” and “honest, transparent, accountable, effective, efficient and sincere government” which he said is the backbone of real and sustainable progress.

Lofty words indeed for one who, despite an admittedly good record as Cebu City Councilor has yet to prove himself as a good administrator. While Davide’s pledge of a sincere, honest, transparent and accountable Capitol may not be impossible, the next few months will test his mettle like nothing he had yet encountered so far in his public service career.

Just for starters, efficient and effective governance means having to deal with the annual problem of flooding in low-lying coastal areas and, again, it’s no coincidence that Davide assumed office in the throes of the rainy season.

And what about the Balili property purchase and the CICC projects which Garcia endorsed to him for posterity? Garcia’s brother Pablo John would have no qualms about continuing it but Davide was elected because of the alleged failures and anomalies committed in those two projects.

These and many other problems lie in wait on Davide’s desk in his first week as governor and for the sake of the Cebuanos we hope he and his people hit the road running and cracking.