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Listening is always the beginning of understanding.
It is in the dialog that bigger ideas are molded and relationship is strengthened.
But such did not happen during a presentation of the proposed Metro Cebu Mass Rail Transit System worth $600 million to Metro Cebu officials.
Mayor Tomas Osmeña rejected the proposal to build an LRT system that would connect the cities of Mandaue, Cebu and Talisay because the rides would be expensive and the project was not designed for the urban poor.
He also pointed out that the LRT implementation may affect Cebu City?s efforts to source funding for the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, which Osmeña has been pushing as the ultimate solution to the Cebu City?s traffic woes.
The mayor then went on to insult the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) for being ?lousy in urban planning.?
Osmeña may have a point when he said that the LRT operation would not help disperse industry to the countryside because it is meant to load passengers and not cargo.
The BRT may be cheaper and cost efficient but it doesn?t mean that the LRT project will not be good for Cebu?s development.
If one has a good idea, it doesn?t mean that the other ideas shouldn?t be heard because these are lousy.
Development projects should be listened to and studied since these may spur economic progress and convenience to the already burdened riding public. There may even be a way to merge the BRT and the LRT projects if only the proponents would sit down and discuss with open minds.
But better ideas will not be born if the local officials will not sit down and listen to others. The local officials should realize that Cebu is not their kingdom. They should always think what will benefit Cebu and the Cebuanos. As such, they must listen to all sides before coming up with a decision on what would benefit Cebu most.
The DOTC may be ?lousy in urban planning? but so are the local government units. Look at Cebu City for instance: The roads are narrow. Structures are built on rivers. The drainage system, if there?s any, can hardly flush out rain water during a downpour.
Even the worsening traffic congestion in Cebu City is an indication of poor urban planning. But should we start to point fingers now, instead of looking for solutions for these problems?
Nothing can be achieved if local officials will continue to bicker. Insults will only lead to anywhere but animosity and bad blood.
