Predictions on probable profiles of change – I

To paraphrase the sagacious message of Mayor-elect Jonas C. Cortes during his official proclamation, he will govern with justice without vindictiveness, to be compassionate without compromises, and to effect reforms with resolve. He also commits a consultative and participatory administration, following the footsteps of his father, the late Mayor Demetrio "Boy" M. Cortes, Sr., the father of Mandaue City.

It's thus apt to invoke US President John F. Kennedy's best-seller "Profiles of Courage", in predicting the profiles of change for Mandaue City, given the booboos of past dispensations resulting in loss of community traditional values, its dignity, and its resources.

These predictions are neither any brain-wracker and even necessary, nor those of voluble spokesmen of the rival camp preempting Mayor Cortes' priorities on his assumption. Gleaned from his pre-election sorties, his thrusts have already been aired.

Foremost is the delivery of basic public services and public works long neglected, such as, full lighting of streets and barrio roads, complete street/road paving, up-keep of their drainage canals, restore traffic lights/signals at intersections, improve garbage collection, remove the confusing traffic maze in the Church and City Hall premises, finish the new public market, and attend to the concerns about the City College.

Backtracking, one had satirized the ASEAN Summit preparations in Mandaue by cautioning foreign visitors not to venture into the interior recesses beyond the periphery of CICC. The costly street-paving, gold-priced lampposts, and flowering plants galore did spruce up the venue against the backdrop of shanties in spitting proximity to the CICC. And, in the interior areas, the visitors could be shocked by the dilapidated and scarcely lighted streets/roads, and other ugly scenes. The "augean stable" public market posed like a sore thumb from yonder the CICC glitz, a half-mile away straight as the crow flies, visibly ugly and smelling bad.

Definitely, Hizzoner will rescue the buying public and the suffering vendors from almost four years of official neglect. With nearly P100 M poured into the substructure, it's only right to finish the long-delayed market superstructure on the P379 M loan. There will be transparency, no SOP stench, no kickbacks, and everything above board.

There's a need to address what appears a mystery about the Mandaue City College, if only for the sake of students in mid-course. And, it's basic to evaluate the administrative, personnel, records-keeping, and financial profile of the school. Oddly, the school head allegedly snubbed the City Council's invitation to appear. Given the reported claim of certain faculty members of non-payment of their pay for some months vis-à-vis the head's belying it, an impasse exists. Is the school an independent entity, or what? What says the CHED?

With ears to the ground, Jonas is aware of the public clamor to remove the virtual barricade of the St. Joseph Shrine and restore its unimpeded ingress and egress. Moreover, some sanity has to be infused as regards the flimsy excuse of existing "beautification" - at the alleged huge P25 M cash advance? - of City Hall premises. The labyrinthine street barriers making City Hall hardly accessible have to be bulldozed pronto.

Some say this is to appease the revered St. Joseph's righteous anger for the desecration of being shut off or isolated. The desecrated statue of Justice Sotero Cabahug being lepered like a pariah must likewise be rescued and given its rightful place of honor.

Despite the dynamics and inevitability of change, there are also immutable verities that stay imperturbable as a rocky mountain. These are the institutions and principles to be maintained and/or restored after being violated, say, honest and good governance, religiosity, traditions, historical and cultural heritage, and community values. These priceless assets used to dignify the old Mandaue and the "taga-Mandaue" here and elsewhere, with that unique badge of respectability and integrity, for them to hold anew their heads high in effusive pride but with folksy humility.

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