A livable Cebu City

Recent events reminded me about our 2013 research entitled “What is A Livable City for Cebuanos?”

Utilizing FGD (focus group discussion), a total of 106 participants - students, the urban poor, employees/workers, and those from business - were asked what makes a city livable.

The FGD participants noted that a livable city has qualities related to: 1.) the environment, 2.) basic and other needs, 3.) people, 4.) government and politics, and, 5.) life and community as a whole.

On environment, participants emphasized natural beauty and balance. Imagine a city with good climate, rich natural resources, the sea, beaches, mountains, trees, restored rivers, and green spaces (green urbanism), beautiful views and many more tourist spots. Include beautiful malls and eco-friendly buildings.

It is one where balance exists between natural and human-made resources, between nature and technology, between biodiversity and development, between rural and urban, where one can work, play, and live, with proximity to places. There is diversity of population, it is not crowded, there are no beggars, squatters, or families left out, no discrimination.

A livable city is healthy, safe, and secure. It is calamity-free, with clean, fresh air (limpyo ang hangin), clean water and seas that provide life to people and fish (limpyo nga tubig ug dagat, mabuhi ang tawo og ang isda), clean area, clean streets, not dusty (dili abog), low or no pollution, no noise pollution, with manageable noise or silent (way saba).

A livable city has a healthy environment with healthy food, lots of fruits, clean accessible water and water supply, proper drainage (han-ay ang kadalanan ug agianan sa tubig), proper sanitation, and waste management.

This next feature needs emphasizing in the light of the recent killings.

A livable city has a safe, secure (malinawon), stable, and friendly environment where peace, order, harmony, and unity reign, crime-free or with low crime and where police do not commit crimes.

It is pedestrian-friendly with walkable sidewalks, bike lanes, wide, safe and good roads, and lampposts as well. It has well-managed traffic and has good infrastructure in working condition. It is also accident-protective and emergency-prepared.

Next, a livable city includes equal provision, accessibility, and affordability of basic and other needs that include food, water, healthcare, housing and shelter, sanitation, safety and security, sustainable economy with jobs and livelihood opportunities, education, other services, facilities and infrastructure such as available and accessible electricity, lampposts, public markets, wider and safer roads, mass transit, environment-friendly, efficient, accessible, fast transport, waste management, drainage system, among others.

A livable city also provides for the safety and security, spiritual, emotional, and mental needs of people. A livable city has, disciplined people, encouraged, highly competitive, enlightened, educated, good, warm, friendly, responsible, trustworthy, law-abiding, and environment-friendly people.

A livable city is a community of diverse yet interconnected, happy, satisfied people with a lot of love, no back-biting (way manglibak ug naanad na ka sa tawo), no discrimination, and with no families left out - even the youth participate.

People expect good and responsive government and politics in a livable city.

There are good public officials where good politics exist (matarung nga pagkadagan sa gahum politika), with government responsive and with effective coordination. Government officials work for the common good.

Finally, a livable city has affirmative features, progressive, sustains life, has high standard of living and profession. It is a friendly community with available and affordable recreational areas (lingaw ug daghang kalingawan) with strong institutions as well as arts, music and culture, both local and international. Life is comfortable, slow-paced (hapsay, maharuray), and seamless.