White elephants

On November18, 2019 we learned from the Department of Public Works and Highways that the Cebu-Bohol link bridge and the Cebu-Negros link bridge are no longer included in the new “Build, build, build” list.

All commentators deplore the move. I say thanks for sparing us the P71 million firstly calculated cost that would balloon to as much as double when difficulties in founding the pillars in the deep sea would request the help of foreign companies who are experienced with the necessary technology.

In disaster-prone Philippines the next mega-typhoon will render incontrollable big ships (as happened in Leyte during Yolanda) and push them against the bridges destroying them heaving up and down with the huge waves. Repair will take years. No economic benefit under the build-operate-transfer scheme if only one stretch between two pillars is unpassable.

Nobody who wants to go to Bohol or Negros or do commerce with these islands is hindered to do so for big passenger and cargo ships are commuting several times daily for an affordable fare. Even the bridges were operating sharp calculating businessmen would compare the shipping price with the bridge toll. Amortization of the bridge investments would take years for lack of users.

To imagine trucks and cars apparently running over the sea from Cordova to Jetafe and vice-versa against the backdrop of Bohol’s mountains is a weird vision. Only modernization-believers enjoy such a spectacle. Consider also all the trash that Filipinos would fling into the sea.

The argument that Inabanga water would help Cebu and electricity from Cebu would help the Boholanos is invalid. First an underwater-pipeline can deliver the water for a much lower price than a bridge-supported tube. But Boholanos are stupid if they will share their precious treasure with Cebuanos who are unable to manage their own abundance of water. To export electricity to Bohol means building more coal-fuelled power stations which will infuriate climate-conscious Cebuanos with good reasons.

Furthermore, 46% of Filipinos have no car, 38% have one car and 16% have more than one car. The letter group may enjoy the bridges because money for them is peanuts. The great majority of Cebuanos and Boholanos will never use them.

Their interest is houses, not cars. Leisure trips and overnight stays in posh hotels are not even in their dreams. With a housing backlog of 12 million apartments nationwide the money must be used to finance socialized housing not white elephants. Combatting poverty in the informal settlements entails reduction of fire blazes, misery and criminality and enhancement of education and living quality for the still poor. All citizens would profit if the squatter areas were transformed into public parks.

The target of President Duterte in his Ambisyon Natin 2040 is: A prosperous predominantly middle class society where no one is poor. Long and healthy lives for all Filipinos in a healthy environment.

You be the judge whether bridges or housing brings the Philippines closer to the president’s vision.

Erich Wannemacher

LLC