Letters to the editor - One billion

If you have P1 billion, what would you do with it?

The papers have reported that 901 million, just 99 million short of reaching the B-mark, has been appropriated for flyovers. The funding was secured in part by the del Mars for financing flyovers. Not education, not hospitalization, but flyovers. Those bridge-like things that could carry a few vehicles over the flat road down below. A few vehicles. Who are those who own vehicles? What percent are they of the total population?

Meanwhile, Congressman Tomas Osmena revived his plan to close down the Cebu City Medical Center (CCMC) for allegedly its non-performance. He wants to decentralize the hospitalization needs of Cebuanos and let the barangays handle that aspect. What he needs to realize however is that a hospital like CCMC with an annual budget of 200 million cannot function like Chong Hua. You are asking too much for a hospital that is under-budgeted, thanks to a council, hanging on to his every word, who cut down the Mayor's intended funding for the city by half.

Now, almost a billion pesos have been appropriated for flyovers in areas in the city, which clearly don't need those structures. Imagine if that amount of funding would be poured for hospitalization and medical needs of the people, how many lives would be saved and made better?

If one billion of funding will be used to construct the flyovers, thousands of drivers and passengers will be inconvenienced for the months that the construction will go on, traffic meter will go from really bad to worse and in the end, only those who own vehicles will benefit, or those in the “1%.”

If one billion of funding is poured in the city hospital, not only would indigent patients be made better, but the families of these patients would be spared by not only the physical strains of having a sick loved one, but also with the mental and financial strains that goes with it.

If one billion of funding will go straight to the construction of the flyovers, not only will the promoters leave a legacy of unwanted structures that would destroy historical landmarks, but it would also obscure the skyline and fuel the creation of more choke points in the city.

But if this money is given to the hospital for the creation of more wards, employment of more personnel, purchase of more equipment, the 99% who barely have daily grub to eat and who when diseases hits them, could only rely on the government, would automatically get an insurance for their health.

Despair and hopelessness would vanish with the knowledge that the city has got your back. And that is priceless.

Sincerely yours,

Maria Clara E. Ricamora

Banawa, Cebu City