Finally, we havea candidates’ debate!

Didn’t I just write an article a few columns back that we’re all sick and tired of the song and dance routine done by our politicians who are asking us, “their boss,” for votes? Yes, we pointed out that last year, we all saw over the various international satellite TV networks of the US Presidential race, where the Republicans slugged it over each other for the privilege to challenge reigning Democratic contender US Pres. Barrack Obama. That was an enriching experience if you ask me.

Then when the Republicans chose Gov. Mitt Romney to challenge Pres. Obama, they too slugged it out with two US debates that was televised for all the world to see. Notice that in this US type of democracy (which is where we are supposed to have copied our democracy from) none of these contenders did a single song and dance routine, nary even a song to sing. That’s how different Philippine democracy has become since we were given Independence by the Americans in July 4, 1946. We’ve truly gone from bad to worse!

But yesterday, my wishes came true when the Ramon Aboitiz Foundation, Inc. (RAFI), together with the Cebu Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (CCCI) the Mandaue Chamber of Commerce, Inc. (MCCI) and the Cebu Business Club (CBC) and Leads Foundation, Inc. held a Candidates Fora 2013 at the University of the Philippines Cultural Center in Lahug, with the theme “What is your vision of Growth for Cebu?” This first fora was for the First District of Cebu.

In attendance were Carcar City Mayor Nicepuro Apura, his challenger Mariano Alegarbes, former San Fernando Mayor Lakambini Reluya and 1st District Rep. Eddie Gullas who is running for mayor of Talisay City. The panelists were composed of Atty. Frank Malilong of SunStar Daily, Antonio Chiu of CCCI, Joel Lee, Lean Tan of the Youth, Prof. Felisa Etemadi and Aina Hubahib of NEDA.

All the candidates were given a three minutes as an opening statement. Somehow, I arrived just in time when Rep. Eddie Gullas was doing his opening statements. Frankly speaking, if you’ve got a lot to accomplishments or plans to tell the audience, three minutes is just too short. Anyway, since it was the first forum, I asked RAFI’s Evelyn Nacario-Castro to give a longer time for the candidates to speak out their plans and programs.

But what I got from Rep. Eddie Gullas was something no true blue politician would ever dare say in public when he replied to a question about the role of the politicians in the growth of Cebu. EddieGul said, “Cebu is progressive…no thanks to us politicians. Let us not delude ourselves. Cebu is great because of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Cebu businessmen and not politicians like us.” I call this an act of humility by Rep. Eddie Gullas and I dare the other politicians to stop boasting that Cebu cannot grow without them and instead follow the act of humility that Rep. Gullas just gave his audience.

While the panelist gave specific questions to the candidates that most of them answered with some credibility, however at the end of the forum, when the candidates were asked to submit their plans and programs if they are elected into their respective positions, almost all of them gave a generic albeit motherhood statements like improving education, giving health care to the people and even climate change. Call this a tip to those candidates who will be attending the next forum… that they should be specific when they put in their plans & programs and refrain from making motherhood statements.

If anyone gave specifics, it was Rep. Eddie Gullas. I guess this is due to his long service in the government. If you remember, the first master plan for Cebu called the Metro Cebu Land Use & Transportation Studies (MCLUTS) came from then Gov. Eddie Gullas, this became the Central Visayas Regional Projects (CVRP) and evolved into the Metro Cebu Development Projects (MCDP) I & II. At 82-years old, Rep. Eddie Gullas still has the “it” for infrastructure development for Cebu. He mentioned the widening of the South Road, a reclamation project for Talisay City and the 3rd link between Mactan and mainland Cebu.

Rep. Eddie Gullas once more pushed for his Light Rail Transit (LRT) project for passenger and freight. He was just being consistent as he has been pushing this vigorously in the past. However after the forum, I told Rep. Eddie Gullas that he probably meant, a MRT or the Metro Rail Transit (MRT) which uses a heavy gauge rail system so that while everyone sleeps at night, the railroad can push for all the freight and cargo in the evening, thus reducing the traffic congestion during day time and preserves our roads because there will be lesser trucks that would be plying the route where the railroad passes. The next forum is on April 19 also at the UP Cultural Center at 8:30am for the 5th District. This is getting to be a lot more interesting.

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