I was playing a few of my collection of old long playing records yesterday. Perry Como touched me with a 1949 song, Rose Tattoo. The vinyl itself, as well as the jacket, is near mint. I listened also to a 1950 LP of Frank Sinatra and I thought his voice was different from the man who popularized Paul Anka's My Way. And then, there was a relatively newer music of Matt Monro (real name, Terry Parsons). It was entitled On Days Like These.
Quite frankly, there is no observable relation between the main subject of this column that is today's politics and the songs that I played on my antique turntable. But, on days like these, to use the title of Matt Monro's song, let me sigh my own personal wish list for our new mayor, the Hon. Michael Rama.
This wish list contains few of the many items the past regime of now Congressman Tomas Osmeña failed to deliver. I could understand his failure though. In his last nine years as our mayor, he was simply too focused on the south reclamation area. For all we know, he must have been so specially motivated in attending to the SRP as to act like a horse with blinders. Thus, in the hope of expanding the vision of the new mayor, I am presenting what I think needs the attention of the new administration.
First. There is no doubt that the safety of many of our residents is threatened by a rapidly changing climate. In our city, the most obvious manifestation of these climactic changes comes in the form of recurring floods. Surely, floodwaters pose the most imminent form of a very real threat. As if it was unknown to our new city chief executive, only the other day and just after less than an hour of rain, many parts of our city were submerged.
I wish that the new mayor will flex the city's much ballyhooed muscle to dredge our rivers and esteros. This action must include clearing all the structures that have either intruded into the easements or been built on the waterways themselves.
There will be casualties in the form of displaced families. True, these are sources of votes during elections. But it is better governance to place them away from harm even if in the process they have to start their lives anew somewhere safer.
Second. Walking from one part of our city to another is not readily possible. We have no more sidewalks. Our sidewalks do not serve as walkways anymore. We have lost them to the vendors, thanks to the past mayor. As a result of the occupancy by the vendors of our sidewalks, we, the pedestrians now are forced to walk on the streets and risk our lives and limbs.
I wish that the new mayor shall restore the right of people to use the sidewalks and to safe walking. He has to remove all existing obstructions.
It will not be easy to achieve. Vendors will claim that they are only trying to earn a living that the city is not even giving. This argument is stiff and whether we like it or not, valid. But, if there are many ways to skin a cat, this problem will not remain without a solution to a relentless and resourceful leader.
Third. Walking in the available sidewalks is not pedestrian-friendly. Our sidewalks are not level. I mean, only after a few steps, a walker has to be careful because the next area is of a different elevation.
Here in our city, there are many owners of city lots with small areas. They usually touch the streets and so they provide the sidewalks. When they develop their small strips of land, the elevations of their sidewalks do not consider those of their neighbors.
I wish that the new mayor will adopt ways to correct these structural differences in the way our sidewalks are built. It is ideal that the sidewalk from one street corner to another be of the same level for then it is pedestrian-friendly. This objective may take time to accomplish, but I think we can give the mayor enough time.
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Email: avenpiramide@yahoo.com.ph