Cebu's growth: Give credit where credit is due

Credit, as dictionary.com puts it, is a “commendation or honor given for some action or quality”. It simply means that a commendation is given to a person who deserves to have it on account of good action, deed or initiative. So that, each time Cong. Manny Pacquiao mauls his ring adversaries to submission credit is always given to his hall of famer trainer/coach Freddie Roach for his efforts. Logically, because not doing so, makes Cong. Manny Pacquiao either ungrateful (for non-recognition of a good contribution) to Freddie Roach or selfish by taking his successes as purely his own or his immediate family’s initiatives.

Similarly, the same can be said of Cebu’s growth. It is a fact that Cebu has made huge strides as far as progress is concern. As a testament, three years ago, the highly regarded London-based Finance Direct Investment (FDI) magazine of the Financial Times Group placed Cebu City amongst the top ten Asian cities of the future in several categories. The other two Philippine cities were Quezon and Davao. Notably, however, Cebu City was ranked second to Singapore in business development and promotion. On top of these notable achievements, Cebu City continuously ranks among the top business process outsourcing (BPO) destinations in the world. 

On the other hand, the Province of Cebu took pride in being the country’s number one in revenue generation. Moreover, it had always bragged about their debt-free status. In fact, buoyed by their successful retrieval of previously donated properties, not only that they are debt-free now, their balance sheet has enviously ballooned too. This is so as the province-owned properties are in Cebu City’s territory, thus, the appraised values are prohibitively high. 

All these achievements did not come overnight. These are the apparent and expected results of good vision and effective implementation. Truth be told, today’s leaders are just reaping the benefits. It all began during the reign of then Cebu Gov. Lito Osmeña. He made us all proud when at the time that the entire nation was still in distress following decades of Marcos rule, Cebu was seen as an Island in the Pacific before the entire world. Thus, it was able to continue its stride to economic growth.

Then, Gov. Lito Osmeña was able to convert what was the haven of Cebu’s elite, the capitol-owned 40-hectare Club Filipino Golf Club, into a bustling Cebu Business Park. Generating thousands of direct employees, it remains a living testament of how government executives plan and implement projects that are real engines for growth.   Notably, he also transformed the capitol-owned Lahug Airport to what is now considered as Asia’s hub for information technology and undisputed leader of business process outsourcing, the IT Park. This was made possible due to Gov. Osmeña’s initiative of forming a joint venture (Province of Cebu) with the Ayala Land Inc. in June 1990 in what is now called the Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corporation (CPVDC).

Moreover, as a true believer in countryside development, Gov. Osmeña began construction during his term the Trans Central Highway, connecting Cebu City to the western side. This has become a vital infrastructure that led to the construction and development of the West Cebu Industrial Park (WCIP). Today, it plays host to a good number of medium and heavy industries, particularly, shipbuilding and allied activities. These are activities that have largely contributed into the Capitol’s much vaunted revenue generation capabilities. 

Buoyed by these successes, other Manila foreign investors have started pouring in. Among others, the SM group invested a lot. Lexmark and other foreign companies have joined the bandwagon as well. As the investing and development spree has continued to take strides, apart from its capitol-maligned SRP (South Road Properties) stake, the Filinvest group ventured jointly with the Province of Cebu for the development of the latter’s BBRC lot situated just beside the existing CPVDC-owned IT Park.   

However, while we truly appreciate the joint venture between Filinvest and the Province of Cebu, we abhor Gov. Gwen Garcia’s selfish ways of owing this kind of deal to the wrong person, her father Cong. Pablo Garcia. To recall, during the groundbreaking ceremonies, the governor said that “the Province owes this project to the initiative of her father, the former three-term governor and now Rep. Pablo Garcia (Cebu Province, 2nd district).”   Likewise, Rep. Pablo Garcia claimed that despite opposition from the national leadership, “in Cebu, we saw the beginning of a public-private partnership (PPP) 22 years ago.”

This claim that PPP began 22 years ago is absolutely true. He was referring to the partnership between the Ayala Group and Cebu Province that led to the establishment of Cebu Property Ventures and Development Corp. This is a joint venture envisioned and initiated in 1990 by then Gov. Lito Osmeña (during his term) that was tasked to develop the Lahug airport property. Sadly, however, the Garcias never at all gave even a hint of such fact. Seemingly, they took credit of everything the IT Park has blossomed to be. Probably, knowing fully well that the young professionals in Cebu and some migrants from the neighboring provinces aren’t aware of Gov. Lito Osmeña’s initiatives, they (the Garcias) are trying to condition the minds of these totally unaware Cebu residents that all these favorable developments are the makings of the Garcias.

Truth to be told, this (Gov. Garcia’s claims of undue credits or empty claims of successes) is not the first incident of this kind.   Last year, Gov. Gwen Garcia made empty claims of successes of the Suroy-suroy Sugbo activities. First and foremost, let it be known that Suroy-suroy Sugbo was initiated by the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI). Originally envisioned to invigorate tourism by developing places of interest and constructing infrastructure, this initiative has been claimed by Gov. Gwen Garcia as solely hers. Worst, it is carried not in the way it was envisioned but is used as her political propaganda machine at taxpayers’ expense. 

To recall, in one of her Suroy-suroy sorties, her writers or propagandists wrote, even those mayors allied with Jun-jun Davide admitted that this activity made some areas known. These areas, they say, included among others, Brgy. Lamac in Pinamungajan. This is the barangay where the Hidden Valley Resort is situated. Impliedly, they are saying that the Hidden Valley Resort (owned by Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative) is now known and more visited because of Suroy-suroy Sugbo. 

Truth to tell, Lamac Multipurpose Cooperative (LMPC) is already known for its successes even long before Gov. Gwen Garcia’s father, Cong. Pablo Garcia, became governor. Be it known to everyone that LMPC had humble beginnings. LMPC is a multi-awarded agricultural-based barangay cooperative that thrived and earned multitudes of accolades both nationally and internationally.   Started in 1973 as “Lamac Samahang Nayon”, a group of 70 tenant-tillers and small farm owners joined an orientation and initially contributed P50.00 each. Managed by members/volunteers, with P3,500.00, they started the operation of Consumer/Marketing Services. Through the years, they’ve grown by leaps and bounds.

These achievements earned them numerous awards. Among others, it won 2nd prize in the LBP’s Gawad Pitak Contest in 1995. On the same year, it also won the RCBC Gawad Sikap award. On January 21, 2002, it won the RAFI Triennial Award. More importantly, these awards led to the rise of a very important landmark not only in Lamac, Pinamungajan or Province Cebu, but in the entire country as well, the now renowned, Hidden Valley Resort. Straightforwardly, these achievements alone made them a real place of interest. Multitudes of cooperatives here and abroad have held conferences, seminars, meetings and educational tours in the place long before Suroy-suroy Sugbo was initiated.

True enough, Gov. Gwen Garcia has made several unforgettable landmark decisions. Landmark decisions that probably she can put solo claims, the Cebu International Convention Center (CICC) and the Balili property acquisition. Today, apart from the highly questionable cost of constructing CICC, the project remained underutilized. It might not be a white elephant but it sure is a malnourished one. On the other hand, the Balili property acquisition continues to be a thorn in her term. Unless soon resolved, its acquisition shall remain viewed by the majority of the Cebuanos as more of a farce, not at par.

Clearly, therefore, when one insinuates or argues as to who started Cebu’s growth, don’t look far. Clearly, if recent memory is to be used as basis, we absolutely know where credit is due. Gov. Lito Osmeña palpably earned it, not Gov. Gwen Garcia or Rep. Pablo Garcia. 

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