Cosmetic fixes

The new administrations of Cebu City and Province have their work cut out for them. Aside from having to prove themselves as worthy of the positions they inherit, they also inherit unresolved cosmetic ills plaguing the land of barangays.

Pardon the seeming shallowness of the forthcoming views. But isn’t this place supposed to be a tourist haven?

It will be interesting to speculate about what they will do about the shameful plight of homeless people sleeping in sidewalks and wandering around town. If not for viral videos, no attention is being paid to those unable to fend for themselves. If there are programs and policies in place, however humane and well-intentioned they are, they’re obviously not working when we see the dispossessed snoring in their rags.

This is not to advocate they should be rounded up and simply hidden from view of squeamish neighbors. But what we would like to see would be already-formulated solutions being disseminated, hotlines made known to concerned citizens, treatment centers publicized, and visible reassurance that all those finely-hewn policies are being applied. Sure, success would be nice, and empty pavements would be pretty, but we’re not expecting instant miracles from the new powers that be. Just, perhaps, some action?

Speaking of sidewalks, when will this supposed tourist destination ever get its act together to ensure walkability? The same cracks are still decorating the pavements in major stretches. It is as if only tourists who will zip around in cars are welcome to navigate the streets of Cebu.

Take Banilad Road, the stretch which used to boast the International School, and still hosts the Cebu Country Club, where membership shares cost a pretty ?20 million. Soon, a Shangri-la property will lord over the other establishments, its foundations being dug as we speak. Yet, there is no continuous sidewalk to speak of, much less a pretty promenade to stroll in.

Tree trunks and electric poles bar the passage, and pedestrians have to dart onto the street to make their way along. In some sections, someone walking will have to squeeze against boarded-up facades just to get past, all the while avoiding potholes, smelly seepage, puddles, and slippery surfaces.

And this is the nice part of town. Try walking in seedier areas, where there are no lampposts. Sometimes it’s a gamble between personal safety and arriving home, and this island isn’t making it easy to win the bet.

Sidewalks are simple fixes, easy to achieve, and quick wins for sure. Beautification committees could also focus on foliage, converting abandoned areas underneath bridges, scraggly center islands, and spaghetti wires to prettify the place. Iloilo made much of its newly-cleared streets, with no overhead wires to mar the views, especially in ancestral areas. Will Cebu be able to boast the same?

A bit of investing in the arts would be fantastic. The monumental sculpture of Ed Castrillo, the Parian landmark, is showing signs of distress. A sure sign that not many citizens and tourists care about this particular commemoration of the Battle of Mactan. Is there a steady stream of denizens paying homage to the work of an adopted son of Cebu? Hardly. A failing of the local tourism office?

Yet, there are plenty of areas where more public art can be installed. The arts is alive in this city, as evidenced by the Tubo fair and the few galleries that have taken root. Street art is very visible, including those by international taggers. Why not take advantage of this artistic wealth?

Government patronage can make a huge difference, not just in the lives of the artists, but also the community where the impact can be felt. Perhaps, beauty contests can take a back seat when it comes to government funding, and large-scale installations and art monuments can be focused on. The ultimate winners would be the inhabitants.

Now that would be legacies to leave behind.