Cebu City: The Challenges and Opportunities of a Growing Metropolis

Photo by Zany Jadraque on Unsplash

Hello, dear readers! Today I want to talk to you about Cebu City, the second largest city in the Philippines and the center of the Central Visayas region. Cebu City is a bustling and vibrant city that offers a rich blend of history, culture, cuisine, and nature. Cebu City is also known as the “Queen City of the South” because of its economic, political, and cultural significance in the country. However, Cebu City also faces many problems and issues that affect its development and quality of life. In this blog post, I will explore some of the challenges and opportunities that Cebu City has to deal with as a growing metropolis.

Flooding and Pollution

One of the most pressing problems that Cebu City has to address is flooding and pollution. Cebu City is prone to frequent typhoons and heavy rains that cause flash floods in many areas, especially in low-lying and densely populated ones. Flooding not only damages properties and infrastructure, but also poses health and safety risks to residents. Flooding also worsens the problem of pollution, as garbage and waste are washed away from waterways and drainage systems into the streets and rivers. Pollution affects the environment and the health of people and animals, as well as the aesthetics and attractiveness of the city12

Some of the measures that Cebu City is taking to address flooding and pollution are:

• Demolishing illegal structures along waterways that obstruct the flow of water and contribute to garbage accumulation. The city government is implementing a three-meter easement rule for waterways and offering relocation or cash assistance to affected residents2
• Dredging and desilting waterways and drainage systems that are clogged by sediments and debris. The city government is coordinating with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) and private developers to conduct dredging and desilting operations in critical areas, such as the South Road Properties (SRP) where vehicles were submerged in an underground parking facility last week2
• Cleaning up garbage and waste from streets, rivers, and coastal areas. The city government is deploying teams from the engineering office and the Department of Public Services (DPS) to ramp up the cleaning of drainage systems and waterways clogged by trash. The city government is also encouraging residents to practice proper waste management and segregation at source2

Education and Health

Another problem that Cebu City has to tackle is education and health. Cebu City has a large population of students who attend public schools that are often overcrowded, underfunded, understaffed, and under-equipped. The lack of classrooms, chairs, learning materials, teachers, sanitation facilities, internet access, and other resources affects the quality of education and learning outcomes of students. The Covid-19 pandemic has also disrupted the education system and posed new challenges for students, teachers, parents, and administrators3

Cebu City also has a high demand for health services that exceeds its supply of health facilities, personnel, equipment, medicine, and other resources. The Covid-19 pandemic has also strained the health system and exposed its weaknesses and gaps. The city government has been struggling to contain the spread of the virus and provide adequate care and support to infected and affected individuals and communities. 4

Some of the measures that Cebu City is taking to improve education and health are:

• Building new classrooms, hiring more teachers, providing more learning materials, and upgrading existing facilities and equipment in public schools. The city government is coordinating with the Department of Education (DepEd) and other stakeholders to address the needs and gaps of public schools and ensure their readiness for limited face-to-face classes and full five-day face-to-face classes. 3
• Expanding health facilities, hiring more health workers, procuring more equipment, medicine, and supplies, and enhancing existing services and programs in public hospitals and health centers. The city government is coordinating with the Department of Health (DOH) and other stakeholders to address the needs and gaps of public health facilities and ensure their capacity to handle Covid-19 cases and other health concerns. 4

Development and Governance

A third problem that Cebu City has to deal with is development and governance. Cebu City is a fast-growing metropolis that attracts many investments, businesses, tourists, and migrants. However, this also brings many challenges, such as traffic congestion, urban sprawl, inequality, crime, corruption, and political instability. Cebu City needs to balance its economic growth with its social and environmental sustainability. Cebu City also needs to improve its governance and administration to ensure efficiency, transparency, accountability, and participation in its policies and programs.

Some of the opportunities that Cebu City has to pursue development and governance are:

• Developing and implementing a comprehensive and integrated urban planning and development framework that considers the current and future needs and aspirations of the city and its stakeholders. The city government is collaborating with the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) and other partners to formulate and update the Cebu City Development Plan, which will serve as the blueprint for the city’s development direction and strategies.
• Strengthening and harmonizing the cooperation and coordination among the different levels and sectors of government, as well as the private sector, civil society, and the public. The city government is participating in various platforms and mechanisms that foster collaboration and partnership among different stakeholders, such as the Metro Cebu Development Coordination Board (MCDCB), which aims to promote integrated planning and coordinated implementation of development projects in Metro Cebu.
• Enhancing and innovating the delivery of public services and the management of public resources through the use of information and communication technology (ICT) and other tools. The city government is adopting and applying various ICT solutions and initiatives that improve its efficiency, transparency, accountability, and participation, such as the Integrated Business Permit and Licensing System (iBLPS), which allows online application, renewal, and payment of business permits; the Cebu City Public Information Office (PIO), which provides timely and accurate information to the public through various media platforms; and the Cebu City Citizen’s Charter, which outlines the standards and procedures for availing public services from the city government.

Conclusion

I hope you enjoyed this blog post about Cebu City and learned something new and interesting. Cebu City is a wonderful place to visit and live because it has so much to offer in terms of history, culture, cuisine, and nature. Cebu City is also a challenging place to develop and govern because it has many problems and issues that affect its growth and quality of life. Cebu City is a city of contrasts and opportunities.

If you want to learn more about Cebu City, you can check out these sources that I used for this post:

1: Cebu today and some of its development challenges | Inquirer News 2: Cebu City rushes to address flooding problems — BusinessWorld 3: Special Report: Same school problems, but Covid raises risks … — SUNSTAR 4: Cebu City’s COVID-19 cases rise by 1,000 in 10 days — Rappler : Cebu City Profile — PhilAtlas : Iloilo City | Hala Bira Iloilo!

Thank you for reading and stay tuned for more blog posts about current events and issues!