It is about time!

Let me push the off-tangent nature of this column a little bit farther. Rather than speak on one issue, as I usually do, I will dwell on two totally unrelated topics. If I tend to confuse you down the line, I just hope that the philosophy behind my present concerns reveals by itself later in a manner that is beyond my ken and justifies my mischief today.

One. For a long period of time, man assaulted mother earth with a variety of cruel ways. For instance, he cut down hundreds of thousands of trees not only to supply his extravagant needs for housing materials but even for such idiotic purpose as firewood. For another, not only has he thrown to the rivers all his refuse as if these bodies of water were his bottomless dumping pits, he erected structures on the riverbanks to satisfy his insatiable greed for land space.

That man has however belatedly realized his folly is a welcome relief. He is slowly getting educated that nature can only take so much of our abuse. There is this growing awareness in him that it is also his duty to take care of our planet or suffer too with the decay of our universe. More importantly, our leaders are getting conscious that they take necessary measures to lead our people in doing things that help earth because such process is in fact, actually helping mankind.

The present leadership of Cebu City, under His Honor, Mayor Michael Rama is trying itself to address the ecological issues that his predecessor simply forgot. Only few days ago, we heard of the efforts of city personnel to remove the garbage that had clogged the passageways of the city's esteros. Affected households were even torn down to make sure that they do not impede the flow of water.

That being the case in Cebu City, I hope to bring to the attention of His Honor, Mandaue City Mayor Jonas Cortes or the Department of Environment and Natural Resources, the construction of a multi storey building in the neighboring Barangay of Subangdaku, in Mandaue City. I should know this because I reside in Barangay Kasambagan. The area where I live is located very near the bridge that separates Cebu and Mandaue Cities.

It appears to me that this rising building may have some of its posts erected just beside the Mahiga creek that they may be usurping the easements. If that be the case, not only may there be violations of law, lives may be at stake. One possibility is that a heavy flow of floodwaters may so soften the easements as to cause the building to collapse. Before that happens, it is about time the city mayor and DENR authorities to inspect this rising building and enforce whatever laws may have been breached by the nature of its on-going structure.

Two. I read from the papers yesterday that the new Cebu City mayor so frowns upon an unlawful practice of the administration of then Mayor (now Congressman Tomas Osmeña) that the former has ordered the freeze of a certain working arrangement between the city and its huge, perhaps, preferred, taxpayers.

During the time of Mayor Osmeña, certain companies paid advanced taxes upon the condition that such advance payment be used for specific, (read that as selfish) purposes. There was this so-called advance payment by a large mall owner to the tune of millions of pesos as long as such payment be appropriated for the repair of the road surrounding the mall.

I remember having written on this issue. I then said and I maintain that taxes are mandatory impositions. Persons who are the subject of taxes are duty bound to pay impositions. They are not in no position to prescribe any condition before payment. To demand that they pay taxes provided the amounts generated be used for projects identified by the taxpayer defies any legal paradigm. It was (as it is) illegal. Why the past city administration defied any justification.

Mayor Rama is right is in the right path in setting aside that illegal arrangement of his former boss. It is about time, he rights the wrong practices of the past. The taxes due the government will form part of the general fund. Out of that fund, enabling legislations will point which expenditure may it, or a part of it, be spend for. I offer a toast for Mayor Rama for starting to assert what is legal even if his assertion exposes the undesirable side of the actions of his predecessor.