Arroyo's SONA and Cebu's future

Cebu Daily News

By now President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo's State of the Nation Address (Sona) would have been dissected by political analysts across the country. Based on initial assessments, the overriding concern is about her political plans. She played coy about it throughout her speech.

For now, let’s look at three areas of achievement the President proudly laid claim to. She bragged that these helped stabilize the country's economy and would lead the Philippines to better times ahead, whether she remains a part of it or not.

President Arroyo credited tourism as a major engine of growth, growing four times bigger during her term, and generating billions of pesos in revenue.

Cebu topped the country in foreign tourist arrivals early this year. With its stable peace and order situation, compared to Luzon and Mindanao, and resort appeal of big city trappings and beach-diving paradise, it will continue to attract more foreign visitors and balikbayans.

Sadly, recent news reports of a few foreigners abusing local hospitality spoiled some of the goodwill and benefits that travellers have brought to Cebu.

The recent case of slain Norwegian Nils Frode Steen Aksnes bears watching especially since the Bureau of Immigration failed to spot his prior records which included sexual assault and violence in his native country of Norway.

Hopefully the bureau along with other agencies don't deflate the President's boast that the country is a premier tourist destination by compromising the welfare of Filipinos especially minors who bear the brunt of exploitation.

The President also called on Congress to institute a Philippine Transport Law that would help modernize and regulate the country's transportation sector.

This brings to mind Cebu City's plan to put in place a more efficient Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) hopefully to be part of development within the South Road Properties (SRP).

If the administration wins in the May 2010 local elections, it is expected to push through with the BRT but city officials should also consider hundreds of jeepney drivers who’ll lose their livelihood when their units are phased out.

Arroyo said her administration has done much to protect the environment.

But look no farther than Naga City in south Cebu where environment groups are howling over provincial government plans to set up a coal ash dump by the beach for a coal-fired power plant, whose operations risk the health and surroundings of nearby communities

By listing her accomplishments, both President Arroyo and her allies in Cebu gloss over the warts.

It's up to stakeholders and the media to keep a grip on reality and point out errors of unbalanced growth even if the President finds ways to prolong her grip on power.

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