Coordinated traffic enforcement

The need for honest to goodness traffic law enforcement is manifested everyday, but the efforts of authorities seem to be lacking due to many things that are not in place.

Many years ago during the traffic summit held at SM City Cebu and the next day at the MCWD auditorium, the participants came up with a list of items and recommendations to improve traffic management.

We wonder what happened to them. 

Among the recommendations was the creation of the Metro Cebu Traffic Authority, which we know hasn’t really materialized.

Now, we see each local government unit come up with their own traffic management teams often named after the chief executives. This is a start, but the effort is still not enough.

With some local chief executives already drawing the political line with the others, we expect more problems on traffic management to crop up.

A very obvious one in the situation in the boundary of Cebu City and Talisay City where drivers of jeepneys bound for Bulacao make a U Turn in front of St. Paul’s College. Traffic congestion in the area has been a nightmare for many but nothing much can be done.

We also notice that in Mandaue, there are times of the day when drivers follow the traffic laws, but then when it gets dark, many of them just do as they please due to the lack of enforcers even on the main highway.

The situation in Talisay is even worse as tricycles are the kings of the road in Tabunok and the traffic authorities are useless. You think some of them are either sleepwalking or day dreaming as they can’t see violators right in front of them.

We don’t pretend to know the solutions to the problems, but the leaders of the various local governments must start to realize that there is a real need to work harder.

We are proud of Cebu’s economic growth, but without proper traffic management, this growth with be stunted and the potential of our beloved Cebu will be greatly affected.

* * *

A reader complained to us about garbage trucks that are not properly covered and leave a trail of garbage on their way to the dumpsite in Inayawan.

This is not the first time that we have come across such situation and have in fact raised this several times in this column.

The best way to address this is for the barangay officials to call the attention of the crew of the garbage trucks if this happens.

If they can’t stop the trucks, then they can call the barangays that own the trucks to complain.

“The debris can cause accidents,” a reader said. “It also stinks,” she added.

* * *

For your comments, complaints and suggestions please feel free to contact us at 2531276 or 2538613 local 237.

You can also send email to [email protected].