EDITORIAL - Transformation needed

Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama may be getting a powerful ally in his mission to make Cebu City like Singapore; the city-state’s ambassador to the Philippines, Gerard Ho Wei Hong.

According to a report in this newspaper, Hong was happy to hear that Rama wants to make Cebu City like his country.

Hong went to City Hall to exchange ideas with the mayor, specifically asking for what Mayor Rama wants to achieve that Singapore already has.

"Name it and we have companies that can help you with the solutions," said Hong, who added that there are many Singapore-based companies that can be tapped to help solve some of the city’s problems.

Might there be companies that can help people develop the discipline needed to help transform Cebu City? And a company that can also help our leaders develop the political will to enforce regulations without fear or favor?

Because as it stands right now, the cosmetic facelifts Cebu City is getting aren’t enough to bring us up to the standards of that city-state.

Singapore became the economic heavyweight in the region because of its leaders are not afraid to enforce the laws and its citizens follow them to the letter. It has become a place with almost no graft and corruption --they are the firth least corrupt country in the world-- and also one of the most attractive and presentable, because their citizens practically police themselves when it comes to cleanliness.

While Mayor Rama’s vision of a Singapore-like Cebu is laudable as it is ambitious, it can never be achieved unless the people transform themselves the way the city’s landscape is being transformed.

We can never be like Singapore unless we adopt the mindset that Singaporeans have. For our leaders it is to exercise authority without special treatment to certain groups or reserving special favors for anyone. For our ordinary citizens that is to have enough discipline to always follow the law even when no one is looking.