RADAZA vs CHAN vs PELAEZ

[Lutong Makaw]

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^ the words "highly, urbanized and city" would like to object to being used to label a backward, squatter-infested village with open sewers and heaps of unemployed people...

When I think city, I think New York, Tokyo and other places run by mayors like Bloomberg, not the embarrassing place run by Radaza that foreigners laugh and chortle at for being so primitive and bad while they shuttle between Mactan International Airport and Shangri-La while they ogle at half-starved children and unemployed shirtless people.

If that's the case why don't you pack your bags and take your circus act somewhere like New York and Tokyo perhaps?

[brad2005]

If that's the case why don't you pack your bags and take your circus act somewhere like New York and Tokyo perhaps?

take your circus acts? LOL. tan-awa ra iyang tubag o. so manghambug pa ka anang pagka HIGHLY URBANIZED nga opon? ha! Joke's on you!

[raski]

If that's the case why don't you pack your bags and take your circus act somewhere like New York and Tokyo perhaps?

I don't live in Lapu-Lapu, I live in Cebu City which is by far better governed than some squatter-infested town run by that corrupt imbecile Radaza. I am merely giving my point of view as a disinterested and therefore unbiased outsider and commenting on what I see on the few occasions that I travel through Lapu-Lapu to go to Shangri-la or Plantation Bay. The stark difference in the way private corporations there are run and the way the residents live is evidence enough that the Radazas have accomplished nothing for the people in all their years in power.

I understand that you may be hurt emotionally when I attack your beloved Radaza but I urge you to review the forum rules and refrain from personal attacks in the future as that degenerates the discussion to a pissing contest and is contrary to the spirit of intelligent discussion that the forum seeks to encourage. Any future outbursts calling me or other posters "circus acts" or other similar derogatory remarks will be reported to the moderators for immediate action in the interest of preserving civility. Consider yourself warned.

[PascualDelaSerna]

I don't live in Lapu-Lapu, I live in Cebu City which is by far better governed than some squatter-infested town run by that corrupt imbecile Radaza. I am merely giving my point of view as a disinterested and therefore unbiased outsider and commenting on what I see on the few occasions that I travel through Lapu-Lapu to go to Shangri-la or Plantation Bay. The stark difference in the way private corporations there are run and the way the residents live is evidence enough that the Radazas have accomplished nothing for the people in all their years in power.

I understand that you may be hurt emotionally when I attack your beloved Radaza but I urge you to review the forum rules and refrain from personal attacks in the future as that degenerates the discussion to a pissing contest and is contrary to the spirit of intelligent discussion that the forum seeks to encourage. Any future outbursts calling me or other posters "circus acts" or other similar derogatory remarks will be reported to the moderators for immediate action in the interest of preserving civility. Consider yourself warned.

I also travel to Cebu City every now and then and can't help but notice people in Ermita, Carbon, Taboan, Mambaling and Pasil, communities that swim in vice, disease and squalor. I've also seen the entrails of places like ponce compound and the squatter colonies at the north reclamation area where SM city looks like a paradise amidst hell. By the way, Cebu City -- the Queen City of the South, became highly-urbanized eons ago, yet its perennial problems like urban blight, mendicancy and street families have remain unsolved. We're not even talking yet of Cebu City's mountain barangays where there are no stable sources of potable water, no barangay halls to house health centers, where public schools get denuded downhill along with landslides and where children drown in open canals, only to be seen floating days after in the seawaters of mactan. If we were to judge the accomplishments of Cebu City officials by how many of their constituents continue to live in unspeakable conditions, and compare this with Lapu-lapu City officials, I think you get the picture. And Cebu City is not devoid of big private companies and posh hotels, too. It even has one officially-declared economic zone -- the IT Park. The comparison could go on and on. But in the end, I truly believe that even with its own share of problems, Lapu-lapu City has still made enormous progress in the last nine years as compared to other highly-urbanized cities.

[raski]

I also travel to Cebu City every now and then and can't help but notice people in Ermita, Carbon, Taboan, Mambaling and Pasil, communities that swim in vice, disease and squalor. I've also seen the entrails of places like ponce compound and the squatter colonies at the north reclamation area where SM city looks like a paradise amidst hell. By the way, Cebu City -- the Queen City of the South, became highly-urbanized eons ago, yet its perennial problems like urban blight, mendicancy and street families have remain unsolved. We're not even talking yet of Cebu City's mountain barangays where there are no stable sources of potable water, no barangay halls to house health centers, where public schools get denuded downhill along with landslides and where children drown in open canals, only to be seen floating days after in the seawaters of mactan. If we were to judge the accomplishments of Cebu City officials by how many of their constituents continue to live in unspeakable conditions, and compare this with Lapu-lapu City officials, I think you get the picture. And Cebu City is not devoid of big private companies and posh hotels, too. It even has one officially-declared economic zone -- the IT Park. The comparison could go on and on. But in the end, I truly believe that even with its own share of problems, Lapu-lapu City has still made enormous progress in the last nine years as compared to other highly-urbanized cities.

Yes there are squatter areas in Cebu City, but not to the pervasive extent in Lapu-Lapu. Driving around Lapu-Lapu you can't help but get the impression that the entire city is one huge squatter colony stuffed with Radaza supporters to ensure his victory in elections. Secondly, economic zones are irrelevant to the discussion at hand since their establishment, maintenance and administration are functions of PEZA, not the local mayor. I would go as far as to suggest that Radaza has nothing at all to do with MEPZ in his city whatsoever, in fact PEZA-designated corporations are not liable to pay local city taxes because they are not considered part of their localities for all intents and purposes.

This is a case of "but for" and "if not for" wherein, absent these economic zones, the city of Lapu-Lapu would be an even worse hole than it already is under Radaza. Any progress (minuscule as they may be) are despite of, and in spite of, rather than because of Radaza. His anti-business tendencies and unbridled corruption are well known among businessmen in Cebu who are doing, or have attempted to do business in Lapu-Lapu city. You may chalk that off (as is the tendency among supporters of corrupt politicians) as anecdotal, but it is no more anecdotal than this alleged "progress" you claim Lapu-Lapu has made vis-a-vis other "cities".

The main contributors to Lapu-Lapu's economy that Radaza has power over, are the many resorts and hotels in the island but they are not located there because of Radaza or any acts attributable to him, but are there because of the natural beauty and locational advantages of Mactan Island. They locate there IN SPITE OF Radaza's incredible and widespread corruption, and they merely tolerate him in the same way one tolerates a sick tyrant like Saddam Hussein or Adolf Hitler: They fear for their business and reprisals. Thank God there is an Efrain Pelaez to stand up to your beloved Radaza.

[PascualDelaSerna]

take your circus acts? LOL. tan-awa ra iyang tubag o. so manghambug pa ka anang pagka HIGHLY URBANIZED nga opon? ha! Joke's on you!

Let's contextualize.

Mandaue City was declared a highly-urbanized city years before Lapu-lapu City. Yet, the former has no decent plaza or public market of its own, its bus terminal is operated by Cebu City, it has no economic zone or posh hotels and resorts, its only wharf is owned privately by the Ouanos.

In terms of annual income, Mandaue City's tax collections are higher because it has no economic zone that exempts itself from paying local taxes. This is why Mandaue is also called the Industrial Hub of the South.

Sure, Lapu-lapu City has its own share of woes, but these are clearly minute in terms of quantity and proportion compared to richer Mandaue City. Lapu-lapu doesn't have the pollution of the butuanon and subangdaku rivers. Instead, Lapu-lapu City has several marine sanctuaries and a world-famous bird sanctuary.

In fact, despite its woes, Lapu-lapu City continues to attract investors like no other LGU of its kind in the entire region. It has also lured many real estate subdivisions into its fold, notwithstanding the usual urban concerns caused mainly by in-migration and a limited budget for services on account of many huge taxpayers refusing to pay local taxes to the city.

Clearly, Lapu-lapu City's officials have made positive strides towards progress despite the city's limitations.

[PascualDelaSerna]

Yes there are squatter areas in Cebu City, but not to the pervasive extent in Lapu-Lapu. Driving around Lapu-Lapu you can't help but get the impression that the entire city is one huge squatter colony stuffed with Radaza supporters to ensure his victory in elections. Secondly, economic zones are irrelevant to the discussion at hand since their establishment, maintenance and administration are functions of PEZA, not the local mayor. I would go as far as to suggest that Radaza has nothing at all to do with MEPZ in his city whatsoever, in fact PEZA-designated corporations are not liable to pay local city taxes because they are not considered part of their localities for all intents and purposes.

This is a case of "but for" and "if not for" wherein, absent these economic zones, the city of Lapu-Lapu would be an even worse hole than it already is under Radaza. Any progress (minuscule as they may be) are despite of, and in spite of, rather than because of Radaza. His anti-business tendencies and unbridled corruption are well known among businessmen in Cebu who are doing, or have attempted to do business in Lapu-Lapu city. You may chalk that off (as is the tendency among supporters of corrupt politicians) as anecdotal, but it is no more anecdotal than this alleged "progress" you claim Lapu-Lapu has made vis-a-vis other "cities".

The main contributors to Lapu-Lapu's economy that Radaza has power over, are the many resorts and hotels in the island but they are not located there because of Radaza or any acts attributable to him, but are there because of the natural beauty and locational advantages of Mactan Island. They locate there IN SPITE OF Radaza's incredible and widespread corruption, and they merely tolerate him in the same way one tolerates a sick tyrant like Saddam Hussein or Adolf Hitler: They fear for their business and reprisals. Thank God there is an Efrain Pelaez to stand up to your beloved Radaza.

Cebu City's squatters are more pervasive than in Lapu-lapu City. And just as the squatters there are mostly from neighboring towns in the province, so are the squatters of Lapu-lapu City. And I only mentioned the economic zones as one basis for comparison between two highly-urbanized cities. Anti-business tendencies...you mean all the businesses here now are involved in bribery, otherwise they could not have set up shop here? Well-known among businessmen in Cebu...have they convicted anyone here in Lapu-lapu of a single case of graft? Incredible and widespread corruption...has this been affirmed by any court of law? Fear for their business and reprisals...you mean these businessmen are cowards who simply tolerate illegal acts like corruption?

Businesses come not just because of locational advantage and natural beauty but also because of sound public policies. This is proven by the well-published study of the World Bank, et al placing Lapu-lapu City as the second most business-friendly city in the country, next only to Taguig.

By the way, I have been totally civil and respectable of my words here. However, you sound like you're the one who's the "sick tyrant" in this discussion.

[brad2005]

The main contributors to Lapu-Lapu's economy that Radaza has power over, are the many resorts and hotels in the island but they are not located there because of Radaza or any acts attributable to him, but are there because of the natural beauty and locational advantages of Mactan Island. They locate there IN SPITE OF Radaza's incredible and widespread corruption, and they merely tolerate him in the same way one tolerates a sick tyrant like Saddam Hussein or Adolf Hitler: They fear for their business and reprisals.

baga ug nawng for Radaza minions to take credit of 5-star world-class resorts located in the city. when in fact, maski kinsa pa na nga mayor, mu invest man gyud na.

[PascualDelaSerna]

lapu-lapu city highly urbanized?...what a joke.

The joke is none truer than in Cebu City with its beautiful Carbon Market, squatter-free Mambaling and Taboan, as well as vendor-free Colon St. and drug-free Pasil and Ermita. The joke is also none truer than in the unpolluted Butuanon river in Mandaue, along with its nice-looking burned-down ruins of a public market and the few square meters of parking lot that Mandauehanons call as their public plaza.

Compared to such wonderful features of Cebu City and Mandaue, Lapu-lapu City indeed pales in comparison. What a joke.

[PascualDelaSerna]

baga ug nawng for Radaza minions to take credit of 5-star world-class resorts located in the city. when in fact, maski kinsa pa na nga mayor, mu invest man gyud na.

There's the unfairness of it all. When bad things take place, the mayor is to blame. But when good things happen, the mayor has nothing to do with it. Cute, huh.