Mahiga River banks show comparative leadership
In my article last Thursday, I promised to refrain from making suggestions, in this column, to our local chief executive, the only mayor we have. I composed that write-up in response to a message, apparently intended for everyone, not to bother Cebu City mayor Edgardo Labella with ideas on how to run the city. Even if I felt that I was not one of those asked to stop telling the mayor what he should do to govern effectively, I still am committed to do my share, by keeping my mouth shut. I say so not because I have lost my impertinence but out of the obvious trust people placed in the brand of Labella leadership demonstrated in his defeating Tomas Osmeña, last elections.
While travelling on the two adjacent reclamation areas bordering the cities of Cebu and Mandaue, I can notice the difference in the administrative minds of the mayors Edgardo Labella and Jonas Cortes. We can see this difference in the way they take care of the assets of their respective cities, and in the manner they address the plight of affected informal settlers. This is most glaring on the banks of Mahiga River not very far from SM City. This river serves as the boundary between the cities. The northern banks belong to Mandaue and Cebu City owns the other side. The perceptible variance in the condition of these two river banks can be a gauge on the leadership qualities of the two city mayors.
On the Mandaue City side of the Mahiga River, we can observe a pleasant result of the earnest effort of the administration of Mayor Cortes to clear the area of informal settlers. That used to be the site of hundreds of homes owned by our fellowmen belonging to the so-called “less privileged” in our society. Most of those houses were made of light materials like recycled plywood, bamboo thatches, discarded tarpaulins, rusty iron roofings, and even cardboard. The families living there were separated from one another only by brittle walls. But, they are no longer there, save for a remaining few. The environmental and sanitary concerns more than plain eyesores, are gone. If I only did not learn from someone with whom I chanced to talk when I stopped by the place that they were relocated by Mayor Cortes to a permanent area where they have become proud home owners, I would have imagined that the Mandaue City mayor possessed a magic wand. The organized clearing of the then blighted area by the Mandaue City government, thanks to the able leadership of Mayor Cortes, may still be going on. But all Mandauehanons are certain that when this process shall have been completed, Mayor Cortes will not only have retrieved for Mandaue City a valuable piece of real property but more importantly, he will have given dignity to those who, among his constituency, have less in life. Good job, Mayor Jonas.
Let me not write on the depressing and unsightly condition of the Cebu City side of Mahiga River at the reclamation, lest I might make an impertinent suggestion to Mayor Labella, and consequently breach my commitment to hold my tongue. I really want to keep my word. The fact, however, is that all of us who, every now and then, pass by the place will find occasion to apply res ipsa loquitor, a doctrine in the rules of evidence. From whatever stark contrast in what we see from the banks of Mahiga River, let the thing speak for itself, as we can make our deductions on who is the mayor who has done his job better in just four months of his term. If we must compare Mayor Cortes and Mayor Labella in their solution to this environmental and social problem at the Mahiga River, what we see there provides a definitive clue. Still, I do not hesitate to say though that our mayor, who knows what to do such that he does not need any suggestion anymore, can eventually scale the heights now enjoyed by Mayor Cortes.
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