Changing of the guards, a possibility?

As disclosed in the media, there’s a blossoming political realignment in Cebu City led by incumbent mayor Mike Rama. Last Sunday, former congressman Tony Cuenco declared his willingness to support Rama in the latter’s reelection bid in 2013. And the other day Councilor Edgardo Labella accepted the offer to run as Rama’s vice mayor. This happened after some 30 barangay councilmen and captains, all members of “Barkada,” went to see Labella and asked him to support Rama.

Labella’s candidacy is a big plus factor for Rama’s team. As a public servant, first as deputy ombudsman and later as city councilor, Labella has shown a high degree of fair mindedness and probity coupled with an exemplary professional competence. With such qualities he is most likely to draw the sympathy and support of many city residents, thus ensuring positive results at the polls come 2013.

After Labella came out with his declaration to join the new group, how many more high-profile people will do the same? No doubt there will be many more, although a good number of them will choose to be non-committal for the time being. These are the people who for one reason or another have had disagreeable experiences with the BOPK leadership. The reason could be personal or political or simply a longing for new faces in Cebu City’s political landscape.

For several years now Tomas Osmeña has been at the helm in the governance of Cebu City. He has done a lot of good things, to be sure – in fact, outstanding things, actually, such as the monumental SRP. But at the same time certain urgent needs have been unattended. An effective drainage system is one; well paved roads are another; still another is an efficient traffic control and mass transport system; and for the very poor, an affordable health care and housing facilities, among others.

One can say that these concerns are in the minds of the BOPK henchmen, but that they need time to realize these. But how many years has this group called the shots in the city? Not just ten years but double ten years, perhaps, and the patience of city dwellers is running out. How many more years will they have to wait?

Cebu City has been called Osmeña city because the hold of the Osmeñas on the political mindset of Cebuanos has been strong. But many of the old die-hards have faded away and the younger set of electors are idealistic and open minded. Party loyalty does not mean much to them. But loyalty to personalities who can best serve the interest of the community is what counts.

This reality is therefore the one factor that can tilt the balance of choice to the new set of leaders represented by Mayor Rama and Councilor Labella. After more than a year as mayor of Cebu City Rama has shown a kind of leadership which is conscience driven. Despite the non-cooperation of majority of the councilors, as exemplified by the mangling of his budget proposal for CY 2013, he has managed to function with a certain degree of effectiveness, inspiring, directing, and at times berating the under performers. For example, when the police seemed helpless in going after the drive-by killers the last few weeks, who came out with a call to arms but the mayor? Now there are suspects behind bar – which means less nightmare and more peace of mind for city dwellers.

Perhaps, one strong come-on to a Rama leadership is his thrust towards unity in Cebu. Since his assumption of office there has been a considerable amount of good-will between Cebu City and the provincial capitol as well as between it and the other component cities, a situation conducive to collaboration in the pursuit of programs and project beneficial to the interest of Cebuanos.

Cebuano unity is indeed the call of the hours. But this can only be attained if there’s a changing of the guards in Cebu City. Will this happen in 2013?