A challenge to the administration of the newly-created City of Catbalogan

By TONYBOY MORALES
July 14, 2007

An mga mulopyo han bungto han Catbalogan naghatag na hin pagtugot na an ira bungto maging usa na nga syudad. An syudad damo it kinahanglan na himoon para maging mas maupay hiya kontra hit iba nga mga bungto na munisipyo la it rango. Kun baga, ha bug-os na isla han Samar an Catbalogan, Calbayog, ngan an Borongan matindog nga mga susbaranan para hiton iba pa nga mga bungto han Samar. Asya ito nga an pagka syudad han Catbalogan, diri la iton pagparayaw ngan panhambog kundi an maging modelo para hit iba pa nga mga bungto.

Sugad nga usa ka syudad, an Catbalogan dapat manguna hini nga mga butang:

1. An "zoning" dapat ayuson hin maupay. Only in the Philippines and particularly in Catbalogan na makakakita ka hin beach resort beside a cemetery. Health-wise, mangirhat ito paghunahunaon. An usa nga dapat kit-on hiton aton liderato ha Catbalogan an pagka-may-ada hin alternatibo na memorial park. Guinsurungan Cemetery is jampacked like a squatter area in Tondo. Catbalogan leaders should think bigger and wider. Pupua, for instance, may be the next site of a new modern Catbalogan. Its plains while good for rice farming is also good for modern buildings and new city infrastructures. We have to accept the fact that poblacion Catbalogan is bereft of good land area for further expansion. What the poblacion needs is simply a makeover to make it look nicer.

2. Sidewalks for pedestrians. Hi MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando is adamant in reclaiming the sidewalks of Metro Manila for pedestrians. Sidewalks are for people and not for hawkers selling their wares. Catbalogan sidewalks are now owned by businesses, whether legal or illegal. The mayor should have the political will to address this concern. Kun malimpyo an sidewalks, an mga kabataan or mga pedestrians magiging safer from accidents.

3. General Cleanliness. One biggest example is the public market in Catbalogan that is so messy. An mahugaw na public market sinyales ito han mahugaw na paninda ngan pagdumara han gobyerno. Kinahanglan la hin mas istrikto na pagpatupad hin balaod para maging malimpyo an source hit mga pagkaon hit mga Catbaloganons. Mabaho na mga estero, mahugaw na mga kalsada, mga vandalized na walls, ug iba pa, kaya iton himoon na mauru-upayda kun mayda political will and mga lider han bungto.

4. Responsive city offices. An syudad na panhuna-huna malaksi permi it mga proseso. Makuha ka hin birth certificate, madagmit. Makuha ka cedula, malaksi. Makuha ka hin mayor's permit, masayon nga proseso. Makaka-obserba kita na hit kadamo hit mga nag-uuro-istorya la hin usa na opisina, pag-request nimo hin usa ka butang, masiring dayon na baliki la buwas. It "mamaya na" or mañana habit dapat waraon na. Government services should be faster, better, and smarter.

5. Peace and order. Catbalogan is relatively peaceful compared to big cities like Manila but there are also some spate of incidents that make Catbalogan an unsafe place to rear kids. A peaceful place is like a magnet for development.

5. Stir more economic activities. A city in its name is useless when most of the people are dying of poverty. Catbalogan's population is too dependent on the bounties of the sea and the meager produce of the land. There should be alternative jobs for people that would calibrate economic growth. When the government is the biggest employer in a place, that is a disaster. Private enterprises must be able to contribute to harness the potentials of the people of Catbalogan. Private enterprises should be encouraged to venture into further processing of fish and marine products or other industrial undertakings that Catbalogan doesn't have right now. Cash crops should be introduced to farmers. Backyard farming, ala Green revolution, should be encouraged among unemployed mothers so they rather tend their yard than tend to worthless things like tsismis and showbiz.