Ask the trapos why the south is the poorest in Cebu

If we have traveled both in the north and in the south of Cebu, it is easy to reach the conclusion that the south is much, much poorer than the north. Proceeding from the premise that the traditional politicians who control these areas have the greatest quantum of accountability to the people for such a lopsided state of things, then we should hold the political families who dominate the politics of these districts answerable for the poverty of the second and the seventh districts of Cebu. They have not passed laws that would accelerate economic development in the south. They have been paid millions from the people's taxes and yet they have failed to alleviate the poverty of the people.

In the north, the Duranos of Danao, the Martinezes of Bogo, and the Salimbangons have at least pushed the economic progress of the fourth and the fifth districts. In the south, the Kintanars, the Abineses, and the Camineros of southeastern Cebu as well as the Garcias of the southwest have miserably failed to push economic and industrial development in the second and the seventh districts, respectively. They have held the political supremacy for the longest time. What have they done? The people remain poor. In the second district, the towns of Ronda, Alcantara, Malabuyoc, and Giatilan remain as fifth-class municipalities, the lowest ranking. In the second district, Alcoy, Boljoon, and Samboan are still fifth-class municipalities.

In the seventh district, Alegria and Moalboal are still fourth-class municipalities. Only Dumanjug is third class. What have the Garcias and Representative John Peter Calderon done? In the second district, Oslob and Santander are fourth class. Happily for the district of Caminero, Argao and Dalaguete are first-class municipalities. The second and seventh districts have very strong potentials for tourism and agri-business, fishing, and poultry. It has the Alegria oil mining and related industries. Moalboal, Badian, and Alegria have strong tourism destinations which have not gotten any support from the politicians. The trapos were only politicking and they do not even have a vision or a long-range strategic plan for the people.

In the second district, the success of Argao and Dalaguete were driven by its larger and richer land areas and the entrepreneurship of the people. The politicians have not been instrumental in the growth of the district. The district grew despite the politicians. There are strong tourism and agri-business potentials of Argao, Dalaguete, Boljoon, and Santander. Fishing, agriculture and poultry in the southeast have not been supported with infrastructure and technology. The trapos have no vision or strategy. They just want to remain in office while the people remain poor. It is high time for new faces with character and competence to take over.

It is crazy to expect a change in the south if the people do not change their leaders. The problem with the people is that they always complain of bad leadership and yet they keep selling their votes to these political dynasties and allowing trapos to lead them till kingdom come.