An Open Letter to the Mayor of Cebu
(Written: February 16/16)
March 31/17 | 9:18 PM
I am a third year Political Science Major from the University of San Carlos and in this letter, I am uncovering my daily experiences as a citizen of Cebu City.
I’m from Bulacao and the place used to be so tranquil at 6:30 in the morning. When you walk along the streets, you will be able to appreciate the morning breeze, the smell of fresh air and the sun’s morning glow. It used to be a place worth waking up early for. But right now, as you can see, Sir, the streets are all astir. You can hear the people breathing anxiously, walking with heavy steps, complaining about the scarcity of jeepneys. I, Sir, am one of them. The challenging part of my school mornings is when people compete for 10F jeepneys. This tests our strength, flexibility, patience and our ability to strategize. The feeling right after you get to ride and take a comfortable seat is deeply satisfying, however, the agony does not actually end once you have already taken your seat. Traffic congestion awaits and accompanies you for about 30-40 minutes. What I usually do to kill time is study inside the jeepney but right now, as I have mentioned above, I would like to share to you my thoughts about Cebu City.
The city is becoming more urbanized than ever. One need not to ask Google or read the news to be aware. It is seen and felt everywhere, one only needs to observe. In my Economic Development class, I learned that urbanization results to the influx of masses which also results to the traffic congestion in the city. Sir, traffic jam is probably one of the most obvious and most talked about problem here in Cebu. People would say that this is caused by how limiting the roads are. You see, Sir, I don’t think that is the problem. Because no matter how wide the road is, if the number of vehicles are more than the road’s capacity, congestion will still occur. I’m not a traffic engineer, Sir, but I have thoughts on how this can be solved. First, lessen the number of vehicles. Encourage companies to provide public transports for their employees so that there will be lesser private and public vehicles. Schools and universities should provide car pools for students. By that time these are done, building of flyovers, widening of roads, segregating of lanes, removing of unnecessary U-Turn lanes, stops and roadside parking, and upgrading to trains, buses, boats and other modes of transportation should be next.
This time, I want you to look outside the jeepney. Observe, Sir. Another problem in the city that needs to be addressed by the government, is the lack of proper implementation of clean and green projects. I have learned from my Comparative Politics in Developing Countries class about the importance of making development sustainable. Indeed, we cannot separate ourselves from the environment. It is true that the government provides various environmental projects, however, the implementation of these need careful assessment. For example, we practice segregation in our neighborhood, but garbage collectors throw them all together at one place in the end. People do tree-planting programs, but they tend to forget that trees need maintenance in order to grow. They plant and just let these trees and plants grow by themselves. I am just saying, Sir, that no matter how splendid and promising the projects are, if the implementation is not good, then the projects are as good as nothing.
On another note, do you hear those kids singing “Mga Ate, Kuya” Sir? Another obvious problem in Cebu is poverty and education. Just like these kids, some children are forced to work at an early age when supposedly they should be at school. It cannot be denied that eradicating or, at least, reducing poverty is not an easy task. There can be no fixed list of solutions to this. One thing that I really want to stress out in this issue, Sir, is the role of education. The government should not only settle in giving feeding programs or financial assistance. It should focus on long-term solutions such as giving vocational job training and career-oriented programs to the people. Indeed, I believe in the saying by Lao Tzu, “Give a man a fish, he’ll eat for a day. Teach a man to fish, he’ll eat for a life.”
Lastly, sir, I want you to look at that pickpocketer in front of us. Look at how he’s just so relaxed while stealing other people’s things. My point here, Sir, is that the city is experiencing a tremendous amount of crime the past months. I heard from news that our crime rate is increasing. Crime in Cebu City varies from a simple pickpocketing to stealing, drug syndicate, murder and rape. Crime happens anywhere, anytime! I am also pertaining to corrupt officials when I mentioned pickpocketer. Corruption in the city does not only involve malversation of public funds, it also includes under-the-table transactions, patronage politics, political dynasties, and so on. I, myself, have witnessed this, Sir, and right now I fear that the list of forms of crime and corruption contains more than the list of possible answers to stop this. Sir, please do make Cebu a safe place. By safe, I do not only mean the feeling of security when we ride jeepneys or when we go to public places, I also mean the feeling of safety knowing that the government is trustworthy, accountable and transparent to its constituents.
Sir, these are my every day experiences that sometimes the government fail to notice. I want to point out in this letter the importance of going back to the basics and giving attention to small details. I observe that if politicians are posed with questions like what is to be done in the city, they give vague answers. They sometimes fail or deny to see the tiny particles that are keeping the society from achieving progress. I suggest, Sir, that you start the progress from the different barangays, the smallest administrative division. And from that, you build up. A little goes a long way.
As the highest ranking official in the city, I know you can influence people. Help me convince, sir, especially the youth, that they can do something. Empower them and make them engage in the betterment of the society by setting up youth-oriented programs. Do not forsake their role in the endeavors of the government because they will soon govern the city in the future. Most of all, influence people that instead of judging the youth, tell them that they are the hope.
I know your job is not easy, Sir. I just hope you will do your best because people of Cebu are counting on you. Like this trip we are taking right now, achieving development and removing societal, environmental, economic and political problems in Cebu will be a long and tiring journey. But I’m still hoping we’re near our destination, Sir. I hope we’re close to having a better Cebu and a better life.
Thank you for reading this, Sir. Good luck.
Phya N. Barrientos
ABPOSC-IRFS-3
disclaimer: artwork not mine
pixelskylines
snowghoul
s-u-f-j-a-n-s-t-e-v-e-n-s
titsay
