Today is January 3, 2014 and time is 8:03 AM from my computer. Actually I officially registered 2nd day of January missing the first day thinking that yesterday was the first day of the year. Good however that I submitted my first installment output with 1,168 words count. What a good vibes here for a start saving right away what should have been my first missed 500 words differential. Problem though is I still need my techie daughter to help me facilitate creating a new blogsite purposely to secure accommodating my daily entry for this project.
My take on traffic jam at Cagayan de Oro City, my adopted City, is what I will attempt to write today. This after I hinted too a friend delegated with authority to address the enormous problem he has calling the shot of restoring the road clearing the mess out of this decade’s old problem that is traffic. Incidentally, he has been under attack from different quarters calling his resignation in time for the entry of New Year for allegedly having not cured the mess out of traffic albeit he was thrust to that position as traffic Czar by the new Mayor of Cagayan de Oro City six month's past yet. While I agree on some suggestions, it seems all stakeholders especially those in authority should take extra precaution on the plan looking into the traffic essentials. Hacking any delegated Traffic Czar I believe should be the least option specially that New Year just ushered in. Yap, this blogger agrees heads should roll down that if proven and validated really inept and doesn’t deliver the goods for general motoring public. From all indications, it seems comments against the concerned party are not yet validated. Hmm, ugly head of politics playing around this early here. But of course, that if the good Mayor who has the power would stamp his imprimatur sucking his appointee when he fells like no improvement happened in restoring peace and order on the road.
I wrote one article actually my impression of the subject for my column “Rainbow” to Mindanao Gold Star Daily many year's past. The title unfortunately skipped away from my mind now. That after reading news on Broadsheet of general circulation that Manila ranks I think first traffic violators in Asia. The bottom line of all this mess is - Filipino motorists just really don’t respect the traffic rules and regulation – beating the red lights here, getting passengers on the middle of the road and all that. Worst though and what accounts for that lofty position is how Pinoy motorists create their own traffic pattern right in their heads! Got this? Go, drive and observe how they show their creativity right now on the road. You would see them all over specially Public Utility Jeepney drivers, taxis and all that pushing their way against all odds unmindful safety of their passengers creating their own patterns and spaces as already indicated resulting of course to never ending traffic mess. That’s it!
Ergo, my two cents take on the issue. And this is easier said than done. Why? This is explainable. Traffic is a serious business and all tax paying public are enjoined to practice what’s in the paper. By all stakeholders – I mean from top all the way down. I’ve been around the country and just can’t really stand the heat of traffic. Rightfully so as it does to all civilized tax paying general public. Reason why I’ve been relying on motorcycles just to make the most of time there is or lost its value once you got stuck in between traffic. From Manila to Cebu and now Cagayan de Oro city, traffic is becoming a problem given the volume of wheels. Fortunately Cebu has been registering marked improvement in their traffic. This I learned seeing lately how they strictly imposed penalties to any violators what with traffic enforcers spread all over the City. No double passengers among motorcycles. Should both wear helmets and all that. All these were strictly implemented to the letters.
By far though, Taiwan could be the best model for perfect and truly haven of smooth and orderly flow of traffic. I do know. I was there and could not just help myself but appreciate how this once migrants from Mainland China do it. Might be how they secure status symbol – students on bicycles on their own bicycle lanes, yuppies on their motorbikes, and buses for public transport. How about the general riding public the government owe effective services as they are tax payers! Well everywhere on the road from downtown Taipei all the way to industrial City Kaoshiung, the government have traffic lights installed allowing them on cue to pass through anytime across the road. All they need is for one person to just manually push the button on the corner for cars to stop on the other side giving them roughly three minutes to complete passing through across. Wow isn’t that simple traffic management in practice?
No need to revisit there. All we need is just an initiative and respect for an orderly traffic. But of course, implementing and achieving and enjoying that solution demands unconditional clearing of the mess towards an attainment of that goal – dropping the volumes of private cars, creating unified or numbered buses plying their respective routes and don’t forget installing too that three minutes traffic lights on designated places! Achieving that need not requires hiring any technocrats or consultants to return the favor and courtesy for an excellent traffic services to the public. In Taiwan’s case, their police and traffic officers were utilized in controlling and securing peace at their parliament where fists fly high bare knuckles knocking out hot-head lawmakers from opposition and later out on stretchers from the Parliament. Healthy democracy in practice? Taiwan too has it!
Go let’s reclaiming peaceful traffic rightfully belonging to tax paying public then. Tall order indeed. But achieving this would definitely be good vibes for the new year. But where and what would we do to our police and RTAs? Might probably be send too in Senate and Congress to secure sometimes the embattled lawmakers. But that’s too far requiring additional prohibitive budget. Why not just at City Hall to restore and secure peace among hot-heads. And no exchanging of fists please. Wild idea. But this could be another story.
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