EDITORIAL - The SRP and Osmeña

Just what is it with the SRP, or South Road Properties as it is called now, that always seems to affect mayor-on-leave Tomas Osmeña so passionately? His passion for the SRP seems to go beyond what a city chief executive would normally feel about a city property.

Of course there are certain people who take immense pride in an undertaking, especially if it is a personal one. But government officials are merely caretakers. What strong attachment they may feel toward an undertaking is essentially limited by their own temporariness.

But to Osmeña, the SRP is different. His attachment to it goes a long long way. During his first run at public service, he gave up what could have been a sure reelection to a third term as mayor and stepped aside for his vice mayor then, Alvin Garcia.

He stepped aside not because he wanted to give Garcia a chance. In fact, even when Garcia was already the mayor, Osmeña kept breathing down his neck until the two had a public shouting match, and that was that. Their friendship and partnership ended bitterly.

Osmeña did not step aside to give Garcia a chance. Osmeña stepped aside because, as he said it then, he wanted to focus on promoting and marketing the SRP. Why a mayor would give up his post to become a real estate agent escaped most people.

But no one dared ask Osmeña why. Just as no one dared ask why he suddenly resurfaced to challenge the reelection bid of Garcia. Maybe he just wanted to beat his former friend and partner. Or maybe the real estate business just wasn't doing so well.

As it was a long time ago, so it is still now. The SRP just refuses to be what it is bruited to be. Of course there now seems to be signs of earnest negotiations going on. But taken against the sheer expanse of the SRP, that is just a drop in the bucket.

The north reclamation area built by his own father did not do so well either, or at least not in the way it was envisioned. Still we do not think it is just personal pride in ensuring the success of an undertaking that is driving Osmeña nuts over the SRP.