A four-hour drive brings you to Dumaguete City, “the City of Gentle People.” The name is very fitting for the capital of Negros Oriental. Despite it not being a small city, it is clean. It is a tourist haven, with one of its primary attractions being Rizal Boulevard, or simply the Boulevard. There is nothing great about it, however, it is magnetic.
Tourist police patrol the Boulevard from sunset until the early morning. They never leave the area and they serve with warmth, not arrogance.
Driving around the city, even to its outer reaches, there are no “makeshifts” or “barong-barongs” along the side of the road. There are also no piles of trash left uncollected, residents are not putting up clotheslines along the street, and the public market is not littered with illegal kiosks.
Is it the character of city residents? Is it a local government imposing discipline? Either way, as long as travelers see a clean and tidy town, it doesn’t really matter.
The city is also home to Silliman University, located in the city proper section, the school makes the locale an education tourism destination.
There are also restaurants across the city, whose locations are well-thought out, making it convenient for residents to entertain visitors.
No to mention, the toilets in the market have been clean over the past few decades – that is how orderly Dumaguete City is.
Yet, how is it they can remain so clean but other cities and towns across Negros, along with neighboring regions, remain so dirty and stinky? Some places may shock travelers with the sight of informal settlers – many of which are housed near seaports, ready to offer visitors quite a welcome.
It is unimaginable how local officials lack the nerve to rid their communities of street vendors that block sidewalks, even the road itself.
Many of these officials appear to lack political will and determination. As long as they win election, that is the goal of these ineffective politicians who only care about themselves and acquiring power (and, perhaps, wealth).
Pity the residents who lack good leadership.
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This column greets Myla Mae Abellana, Maritoni Mascardo, BJ Enerio, Jane Javellana, Edwin Laruan, Ping Jimenea, Rene Cortum, Ernest Ola, Joanne Yoshida, Richard Oquendo, Vanni Teves, Leo Victorio, Butchie Laconico, and Boyet Ortaliz./WDJ