Initial expectations

As I humbly attempt to dwell on “Cleanliness is next to Godliness” as a topic of this article today, I must clarify I refer only to the physical aspect in the ideals of living in a clean Cebu City. This is necessary because I must confess to be incompetent to talk on spiritual cleanliness. A clean city is an area where the incoming administration of mayor-elect Edgardo Labella can impact not just because he raised this issue with perceptible resonance during his campaigning, but because we, Cebuanos, deserve to live in a clean city. Indeed, I remember how Labella pummeled outgoing Mayor Tomas Osmeña whenever he spoke of how dirty our city had become. Labella cited specifics.

1.) The Carbon Market. One night, few weeks ago, I passed by the Carbon market. It was late but the place still teemed with busy people. I must stress here that most of us buy our foodstuffs here because firstly we believe prices there are lower compared to those sold in other public markets and shopping mall. Secondly, such items are thought to be brought directly from farms and other producers and are therefore presumably fresher.

What I saw was sad and sorry. While we had rainless days in a long dry spell, some areas in Carbon were surprisingly muddy. But the appearance of the mud I saw was more dirt, of the unsanitary-looking kind, than just wet soil on top of concrete or asphalt. Actually, I had difficulty distinguishing mud from garbage. Then, in dry areas, the spaces looked like nobody had ever swept off the refuse that lingered for a long time – neither concerned individuals nor the city government.

This is one concern Labella has to wrestle with as soon as possible. Among his first order of business is to organize a massive cleanup team to rid all public markets, starting with Carbon, of all refuse. In one administrative stroke, let him assemble a brigade of street cleaners, trash collectors, engineering personnel, barangay health workers, sanitary inspectors, tanods, firemen, and policemen, and equip them with sacks, tools, garbage trucks and whatever else is needed to take away all solid waste, scrub all walls and columns, remove makeshift structures, dismantle unauthorized stalls, clear drainage, and wash walkways. I estimate that if this work is earnestly pursued 24/7, the mayor can give us public markets where our foodstuffs are sold in sanitary and healthy environs, and where marketgoers don’t have to tip toe from one stall to another wearing facemasks.

2.) Garbage collection. While sanitary and clean public markets are and should be Labella’s top concern, he likewise needs to remove all uncollected garbage. We see piles upon piles of waste everywhere. It isn’t supposed to be. The city charges citizens garbage fees but for a long period of time, it doesn’t perform this service to our full satisfaction. In this column I have written my complaint. Every Saturday I have to bring my garbage to my small property in the mountains just to dispose of it. I hope that when Labella assumes office, Department of Public Services personnel will collect my garbage and perform the service I pay the city for.

I may personally be expecting too much too soon but, frankly speaking, our peoples’ expectations cannot be lower.