Cosmetic fixes

The new administrations of Cebu City and Province have their work cut out for them. Aside from having to prove themselves as worthy of the positions they inherit, they also inherit unresolved cosmetic ills plaguing the land of barangays.

- Joseph T. Gonzales [e-mail]

Pardon the seeming shallowness of the forthcoming views. But isn’t this place supposed to be a tourist haven?

It will be interesting to speculate about what they will do about the shameful plight of homeless people sleeping in sidewalks and wandering around town. If not for viral videos, no attention is being paid to those unable to fend for themselves. If there are programs and policies in place, however humane and well-intentioned they are, they're obviously not working when we see the dispossessed snoring in their rags.

This is not to advocate they should be rounded up and simply hidden from view of squeamish neighbors. But what we would like to see would be already-formulated solutions being disseminated, hotlines made known to concerned citizens, treatment centers publicized, and visible reassurance that all those finely-hewn policies are being applied. Sure, success would be nice, and empty pavements would be pretty, but we’re not expecting instant miracles from the new powers that be. Just, perhaps, some action?