Cries of justice fall on deaf ears
For our special presentation on our Talkshow on Straight from the Sky, we have with us tonight, Cebu North District Congressman Raul del Mar who will discuss with us the future of Cebu’s Mass Transit system and infrastructure projects. Yes, Rep. del Mar has introduced a bill to have a subway system for Cebu. But a subway system solves many other problems plaguing Cebu City.
When we dig the subway tunnel (mind you, we can find many Cebuano workers to work in the tunnel as many of them have experienced this in Lutopan in the Atlas Mines) we can put something that Cebu City never had - a large subway size underground water drainage system, which can drain most of the floods that we get. Then we can add into this project huge water tanks, where the water can be reprocessed and used for watering or even drinking.
Another thing that building a subway system can help Cebu City is on the problem of seawater intrusion deep into the city. When we dig the subway tunnel, it will be dug very deep into the subsurface and hence prevent future seawater intrusion, thus solving this problem once and for all.
But just think. Hong Kong is an island, yet they have a very efficient subway. In fact the Hong Kong subway system is the only one I know in the world that is making money. Singapore too has a subway system and yes, like Cebu, Singapore is even a smaller island. As for the cost, we always complain that Metro Manila gets the lion’s share of the taxes that the country earns, so let it be said that it is high time for Imperial Manila to spread the wealth to the other key cities of the Philippines.
Finally, the people want to know what would happen to the Bus Rapid Transit. First of all, the BRT would only partially solve our traffic problems. So in a way, it can enhance the subway system. But if you ask me, we should put the P10.6 billion money for the BRT and add it to the Subway and then Cebu would have a very efficient mass transit system for the future.
So watch this very interesting talk with Rep. Raul del Mar on the future of our mass transit system for Cebu City on SkyCable’s channel 61 at 8:00PM tonight with replays on Wednesday and Saturday. We also have replays on MyTV’s channel 30 at 9:00PM tonight and replays on Wednesday and Friday at 7:00AM and 9:00PM respectively.
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Last week we saw the headline news that finally after 18-long years, the nearly forgotten Ozone Disco inferno in Timog Ave. where 162 people died ended with the conviction of nine people after that tragedy. Yet this is just the lower court. These people can still appeal their case to the Supreme Court. This is Justice in the Philippines where Justice delayed is the norm, rather than the exception.
I don’t know how many columns that we have written on the subject that justice delay is justice denied in my 28-year career as a journalist. Yet it all began with the assassination of the late Sen. Benigno “Ninoy” Aquino, Jr. Today under the leadership of his son, Pres. Benigno “PNoy” Aquino III, justice is still a raging issue.
We just commemorated the 5th anniversary of the infamous Maguindanao or Ampatuan massacre and the families of the victims are crying out for justice. Alas! Under the present judicial system in this country, their cries of justice fall on deaf ears. Incidentally, there was a slight improvement in the case where Rep. Rodrigo “Bebot” Abellanosa was removed from his position as congressman of the south district of Cebu City in a case filed only in 2012. But then again, this is the exception rather than the rule.
In Cebu there are still three celebrated cases that remain unsolved. The case of former Rep. Clavel Asas Martinez on her misuse of the pork barrel and the case of Mayor Paz Radaza and yes, the nearly forgotten lamppost case. When Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales will come this week, she will most certainly have her hands full from the Cebu media.
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Kudos to Marco Polo Plaza Hotel on the successful hosting of the 8th Soiree Beaujolais 2014 grand buffet at the Grand Ballroom of the Marco Polo Hotel. My good friend, Mr. Johnny Litton, emceed the event and it began with the Uncorking Ceremony of Beaujolais Nouveau with GM Hans Hauri, Michel Lhuillier and Cebu Governor Hilario Davide, III and acting GM Julie Najar, who will be taking over the Marco Polo Plaza Hotel by January.
The Soiree Beaujolais has become Cebu’s most awaited wine and culinary event that only the Marco Polo Plaza could pull off. The event was very well attended by Cebuanos and many foreigners who live in Cebu. Lucky for my good friend Tessie Javier for winning the grand prize a round trip ticket from Clark to Paris via Doha on Qatar Airways.
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