Seven days ago, lo and behold, the mighty one descended from her throne and set off to one of her most aged cities to personally oversee the concept for its alleged improvement.
In one of its most recognizable cafeteria, the Empress and her viceroy, together with the place’s local lords and the prospective patron and his delegation, talked and dined, about how to raise revenues for its coffers. The place is also well attended by the local beneficiaries; from the envoy for commerce to the resident bureaucrats, magistrates, the military and constables; from enterprising locals and their scions to the band of rogue mastermind, all were faithful spectators to the plan of the Empress.
Good isn’t it? That once again, one of this country’s slowly dying cities is going to be revived? But just a fearless query, where are the most affected segment of the population in that supposed meeting of minds? Where are the tenants? Where are the fisher folks? Where are the residents? In short, where are the representatives from the people? What an irony? The supposed beneficiaries of the project is nowhere in attendance. Therefore, it leads me to a questionable conclusion. Who are the real beneficiaries of the Sangley Point Development Project?
Some may say that the local administrator and assemblymen can aptly do that function, but I do not consider them as such. It is not that they are not qualified nor are they incompetent, as a matter of fact, most of them are my friends and associates as I have come to consider myself within that exclusive circle for sometime already. But my acquaintance with them reveals their vested interest in all development programs in the city. My frequent conversation with them allows me to pry open their not so public disclosures of the side deals and side bets of the government projects. Since the city’s inception, this is so far the largest program being undertaken for the city at the estimated cost of $3-billion for the construction of a regional cargo hub in the Philippines. Being the largest project for the city, truly, local gerrymandering capitalists are going thru all nook and cranny in order for them to secure a piece of the pie, and that includes our elected leaders. Thus, again I ask who the real intended beneficiaries are.
In my mind, three (3) major dilemmas are bound to arise from the current trajectory our City is going; overly populated, congested and squatter ridden communities, crime infested areas and an extremely polluted environment are bound to happen whenever a port facility would be built in a locale. Let us take a closer study of the relevant facts.
I do not want to sound doomsday scenarios, but a close scrutiny of communities with container ports reveals a very dismal livability index. A very good example that would be the immediate vicinity of the Manila International Container Port, located at the historical district of Tondo, Manila. Once primed as a rich suburb of Manila, today, it is known as a haven of criminals, hoodlums and transient immigrants from the provinces. The Cebu International Port has also its share of the same problems, as the surrounding water way between Mactan and Cebu are plagued with squatters. The newly constructed Batangas International and Container Port is starting to show signs of decay. Thousand of Visayan and Mindoreño immigrants are now flocking their way to Batangas City, hoping to find a job in the fast growing pier.
Caviteños of the City are already experiencing the same problem of illegal settlers along our seaside, firstly, because of its proximity to the national capital Manila, and secondly because the rapidly modernizing Cavite provides highly labor intensive industries which are what rural immigrants are precisely looking for. Because of the trend of industrialization and urbanization, the City of Cavite, as well as most of the municipalities in the province is experiencing an accelerated population growth. Statistics from the National Statistics Office reveal that Cavite overtook Pangasinan last year and is bound to exceed the Province of Cebu (Cebu City included) within this year in terms of population, becoming the most populous province by 2010, coming after our neighbor Metro Manila. Today, Cavite is the most densely populated province. An estimated 100,000 persons are to be hired in the proposed COSCO Project, not to mention those needed for its construction and its domino effect on other business ventures in the City which would receive a boost. All in all, an estimated 150,000 new jobs could be offered following the completion of the project and all its complements. With the current City population of 104,581 persons, an estimated additional 50,000 persons are bound to pack their bags to live in Cavite City, all in the hopes of being employed in the port project. Their families are doomed to follow suit because of the huge demand for labor in the City. Unless the planned reclamation of Bacoor Bay pushes through, an already crowded Cavite City is doomed to be further over crowded. Even the proposed Floating homes project and housing units would not suffice. Our seashores shall be lost to illegal settlers, just looking for a visible means to support them.
In a not so distant past, I can still remember the days when I can still go directly to the shore from our house in Espiritu Street. Most of our beaches, though not like those in Boracay, are clean and full of life. Today, you cannot even swim as one may even chance upon a floating refuse, worse; a feces. Fish catch has drastically diminished. Truly, our seas have deteriorated thru the years of neglect by our government authorities.
Pollution is bound to increase with the coming of a pier. Container trucks and their soot shall penetrate City streets and houses along the road. Carbon dioxide emissions shall drastically increase in the City as cars, jeeps, buses and other public transports are bound to swell, because of the developments in the City’s industrial and commercial complexes. With the increase in population, the already burdened and over fished seas shall be pushed to its limits which could considerably affect its ability to restock. Scientific studies show that the most significant threat to fish stocks are over fishing and destructive practices, of which could happen as an effect of the amplified demand for food. Further, container ships could pollute the once rich fishing beds with sea oil and its slick. With over population, garbage could exponentially swell to uncontrollable limits. At current levels, we cannot take care of our trash problem, what more with the arrival of the expected expanse of people.
Although our best hopes are in this development, crime rates are bound to increase with the same. From common crimes such as theft and robbery, to organized activities like smuggling and narcotics, almost all felonies defined in the Revised Penal Code and the Special Penal Laws are bound to occur in the City. Years before, you can leave your bicycle along the road if you are just going for a while. Today, if you live your belonging for even at least a minute, something could go terribly wrong. The proliferation of drugs and gambling throughout the city is one of its recurrent problems. Direct bribery and dubious government projects are rampant, from the highest level of governance, to the youngest level, the Sangguniang Kabataan, is tainted with corruption. Everyone is in cahoots in the city. No wonder, development has come to a standstill in this place. All of these current trends could severely worsen given the hand of the local mafia, under the supervision of the Big Boss. Well, I guess the Cavite culture still pervades every local government transaction in the City.
Having said those things, again, I repeat: Who are the real beneficiaries of the Sangley Point Development Project?
I do not wish to sound the horn. I too have high hopes for the development of my City, but current administration plan of actions seem lack sided. Most of their development goals, though having the people in mind, are clouded with visions of personal growth and business ventures. The Caviteños are left behind at the negotiation stage, leaving those with morbid interests to decide their fate. I think this is absolutely deplorable.
The cornerstone of development is the people. Thus, if ever the said project pushes through, the welfare of the people should be placed first before any vested interest. Housing projects should be initiated for the City’s more than 50,000 illegal settlers, providing them with respectable housing within the City for an improved standard of living. Social programs to coincide with those should begin, like health, care and sanitation programs to improve the physical wellbeing of the citizens; educational improvement programs to expand intellectual capabilities of the youth; and skills enhancement and alternative livelihood projects to develop the means of the people to feed for themselves and their families, thus requiring less government support.
Environmental protection must be an important aspect of every development program. Garbage management should take flight as soon as possible. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, so said Captain Planet. The city’s fisher folks should be assisted to diversify their income so that they would rely less to the sea. A Comprehensive Sea Conservation Plan should be passed by the local board to avert an impending fish crisis which could pose a significant threat to the city’s food security. Vehicle registration and regulation should also start now. Old vehicles that do not pass emission standards should be impounded. The Land Transportation and Regulatory Board and the Local City Board should stop issuing permits for additional public utility transport as the city’s roads can no longer accommodate the additional traffic. Roads should be widened, sidewalks should be cleared. Make the city a walkable and environment friendly developed city.
Finally, criminal prosecution depends more on political will. Drug lords and gambling masters are known to the city’s leadership, yet, they walk unabated. The local law enforcement, prosecution and judicial authorities should apply the law, without fear or favor. If the large fish don’t get hooked, what then would prevent the small fries from the same? Nothing lost, nothing gained. If we do not punish the kingpins, what then would scare the thugs?
But just a thought, who is the real Kingpin? Or is it a Queen-pin?
