The councilor and Sanggunian secretaries are here!

The Philippine League of Secretaries to the Sanggunian  is holding a national assembly, in nearby Lapu-Lapu City, with the theme "Effective Legislation, Good Governance and Socio-Economic Development". It started its assembly yesterday.

At the same time, members of municipal and city councils from all over the country are here in our city because the Philippine Councilors League is holding its national convention here. They also began their meeting yesterday.

Let all Cebuanos show the kind of hospitality we are known for. They are our guests. Especially because these secretaries and councilors are assembling in our cities in order to further their understanding of their work, it behooves upon us to help them attain their objective, whenever we have the chance to meet anyone of them.

By quirk of circumstance, these two conventions are timely in the light of various reports we have been reading these last few days. In fact, as regards as the city administration of His Honor Mayor Michael L. Rama and the Cebu City councilors, out of these different news stories, can formulate and implement a pro-active forward plan.

Anyway, what are these reports? Firstly, there was this news that family homes that have been erected in Barangay Sambag Dos have been demolished. The reason? They obstruct the flow of traffic. The demolition is in addition to the continuing clearing of illegal structures that were built along the city's waterways for an entirely different reason.

Secondly, the weather bureau forecast an El Niño, that weather condition of prolonged dry season in the later part of the year. In fact, the water district office in our city declared that it reduced its supply of water to some areas as part of its initial conservation effort.

Thirdly, the weathermen also reported that we should be prepared for the onset of the rainy season in the second week of June. We were told, by way of prudent warnings, that when rains pour, floods and landslides are expected.

These reports are seemingly disparate stories. Demolitions of structures are not of the same character as drought in much the same manner that floods are not congruent with the previous two. But, somehow, a holistic study of these diverse incidents can lead our officials into the formulation of an integrated plan, if only to make our residents safe and our city more livable.

I assume that structures obstructing the free flow of water and human, as well as vehicular traffic, have to yield. It is fundamental and we do not have to argue its validity. The city is correct in pursuing this objective of clearing our rivers of impeding constructions because they are the main cause why we experience floods and as a result, suffer damage which could otherwise have been avoided. This cause and effect is clear.

On the other hand, homes that are built on sidewalks violate statutes. Since these are illegal, they are not provided with basic health services as to emerge as health hazards. These buildings have also been traced as the main cause why emergency services cannot respond to urgent needs. 

The city has to brace for both the rains and the dry spell. For both phenomena, homes (I mean, those erected on sidewalks and on river banks), have to be relocated somewhere for their own well being. In other words, the basic link is for the city administration to identify areas where families have to be resettled.

We can understand the resistance of affected people to resettlement. Previous relocations were done sans careful planning. They were haphazardly executed. So, after sites were identified, transferees were moved there even if there were no ample support systems.

An effective relocation demands more than just reconstruction of homes in designated areas. These resettlement sites should have the basic living amenities - adequate transportation facilities like jeepney terminals, wet and dry markets, spaces for religious, social and cultural activities, elementary and high school in order to attract the cooperation of affected families.

I hope that the councilors in their convention and the sanggunian secretaries in their own meeting explore legislative ways to make use of the available data presented as well as those they may find from their exchange of ideas.

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