The filing of candidacies is still a month away but this early, former Government Service Insurance System (GSIS) president Winston Garcia is making his case for the Capitol’s top post.
In a forum with Cebu Daily News editorial staff and columnists, Garcia presented his overview of where Cebu province stands and what it needs to progress.
Top of his list is an attitude of demanding that the national government turn over part or all of the P14-billion premium paid by the GMR Megawide consortium as part of their winning bid to operate and develop the Mactan Cebu International Airport. It’s easy to agree that the money should benefit the Cebu airport and be used to build a second runway.
The urgent need for a second runway is an old clamor by development planners. How else can the airport service additional flights to and from international destinations and compete globally?
Garcia’s proposed three reclamation projects are a mix of old and new. The plan to transfer the International Container Port to north Cebu has been talked about for years, and is on the priority list of Mega Cebu and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)roadmap. Like the new runway, getting it down is the problem.
The Cordova Reclamation Project with high-end hotels and an artificial beach is a nightmare for environment stewards, who worry about the negative impact of dredging on the marine ecosystem in the Mactan and Hilutungan Channel, including other consequences like flooding and disrupted tidal systems. This looks like a repackaged version of Cordova Mayor Sitoy’s “dream” pushed by former governor Gwen Garcia, and eons earlier by the Malayan Integrated Company in the 1970s.
What’s new is Winston’s dream for a “new metropolis” in southern Cebu, all 5,000 hectares of reclaimed land from Talisay City to Carcar.
Talk about grandiose: Cebu City is still struggling to fill up the 300-hectare South Road Properties and deal with intramurals in the Council over what’s the best way to attract investors.
The deepest stab made against Cebu Gov. Hilario Davide III is not the bold infrastructure goals he lacks but his attitude of taking things sitting down.
Former governor Lito Osmeña was diplomatic, calling him “buotan” and more suited for a seat in the judiciary, but Garcia minced no words in calling Davide “meek and easygoing” and a yes-man to the Aquino administration and Liberal Party leadership.
Winston, who prides himself in being the toughie who gets things done, downplays the bashers of his stint as GSIS president and allegations of corruption. He just says Cebu needs a bastonero to set a hard pace and keep going.
Cebuano voters will be given a sharp contrast of choices and have to examine words against past actions, plans against core character. Is it enough to walk the “daang matuwid” to bring Cebu forward? That will be for the 2016 election to decide.
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