Mega Cebu: Fostering rural exodus?

Mega Cebu Vision 2050, no doubt, is a great step towards (as its catch phrase appropriately put) a wholesome, advanced, vibrant, equitable and sustainable Mega Cebu. 

With the Japanese International Cooperation Agency,  in collaboration with the City of Yokohama, Metro Cebu Development and Coordinating Board and MCDCB Research, Program and Organizational Development, at the helm, such vision will, definitely, be a resounding success three decades from now. 

However, Mega Cebu is not the Province of Cebu.  It only comprises 13 local government units.  These are the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, Lapu-Lapu, Carcar, Naga, Talisay and Danao and the municipalities of San Fernando, Minglanilla, Cordova, Consolacion, Liloan and Compostela. Thus, the question is, what about the other LGUs in the province. 

This question was timely and appropriately raised by Gov. Hilario Davide III as the JICA study team presented the interim report to the MCDCB last week.  He was able to hit the nail on the head when he urged JICA and MCDCB to incorporate “development initiatives on the rest of the towns and cities in the province”.  That he “doesn’t want them to become a quick and convenient access between rural and urban centers”.

Indeed, this is a very valid observation.  To some extent, in fact (if left out in this mega vision), we might even see deserted municipalities in the future.  For one, recent reports revealed that even agriculture graduates disdain farming.  A Filipino sociologist has observed that “Most agriculture graduates do everything but farm; they take government jobs, teach, do research, etc. They don’t want to touch the soil.”  Worst, agricultural workers are dwindling every year as most of them, as surveyed by the Food and Agricultural Organization, migrate to urban areas seeking for better paying jobs.  Some, in fact, are working as mere household helpers because, to most of them, these jobs have given them better rewards than that of the farms.

Yes, we’ve seen migration for years now.  Even before the Middle Eastern countries started to explore their oil reserves and have attracted thousands of Filipinos, migration was already considered the most preferred option amongst us. Today, it is even becoming more popular.  We called it rural exodus or rural flight.

More prevalent now, rural exodus or rural flight refers to migratory patterns that normally happen in a depressed region or province.  Due to limited opportunities, there tends to be a movement of people from the rural areas to the urban areas.  The search for better lives has always been their common denominator.

In both instances, the advent of modern technology has been the biggest contributor to this phenomenon.  News or reports about progressive cities and the better lives of their inhabitants (true or not) can be heard or seen right in theirs or their neighbors’ living rooms.  Naturally, the dream to try their luck mounts.

Also, the advancement of communication technology made it easy for these hopefuls to make decisions.  Though they have to leave their families for the time being, the portability of their best communication equipment made them more comfortable even if they are far away.  They are fully aware that knowing their families’ well-being is just a call away.

Indeed, while the availability of real-time communication benefitted the majority of the country’s population in many ways, it has also somehow hastened rural exodus.  Consequently, congestion in the urban areas is sickening and inactivity in the countryside is deafening.  Worst, both situations have added concerns on criminality in the urban areas and non-productivity in the countryside. 

However, despite these conveniences, most rural folks will definitely stay where they are if opportunities to earn are present and reachable.  When all the necessities like food, shelter, clothing as well as health and school facilities are available they shall surely stay put.  After all, having Mega Cebu’s moneyed population in the same island makes it convenient for the farmers/fishermen or any home-based manufacturers to sell their farm produce or catch or stuffs.

Therefore, what is imperative now is to develop successful new farmers by providing them experience-based production and sound business-management training. Moreover, if we can replicate Carcar City’s home-based shoe industry (but focusing on other wares), we will not only have a progressive Mega Cebu but a truly livable Island of Cebu.

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