No enforcement of laws?

Last week, we wrote about the quick response of CITOM to a matter raised by a reader, but unfortunately, the enforcement part did not move that fast.

The proposal was to disallow vehicles coming from R. Palma to make a left turn to S. Osmeña since this impedes the flow of traffic coming from the SRP tunnel.

Here's the email from Leonardo 'Jojo' Roa, Jr. about the matter:

We were estatic about your call informing us of how the CITOM Board acted on our request about the No Left Turn from R. Palma Street and as written on your Motorist Corner on the Freeman. But the good news was short-lived since until this evening, many vehicles are still making that left turn. Ironically, about 5:45 pm this afternoon, just as were crossing that intersection from the tunnel on R. Palma Street, lo and behold a CITOM marked multicab was doing a left turn from R. Palma St. followed by 10-wheelers and PUJs and the vehicles ahead of us has to screech to a halt.

Would it be that CITOM needs to publish the No Left Turn on the local dailies for 15 days from the date the board approved the resolution or they need to have their resolution reviewed and approved by the City Council? But whatever, I hope that CITOM would still assign an enforcer on that intersection so as to direct traffic and for motorists not to exercise road anarchy, i.e., kung sino lang ang ma-una at matigas. Because if not being an alarmist, one day might be a memorable if a vehicular accident would happen and cause a bottleneck.

And again, if we are to witness a CITOM vehicle casually makes a left turn and just flagging down on coming traffic from the tunnel, then we assume that it would be entirely okay and do the same.

Since we know that this email may be forwarded to our friend, Jack, we offer this unsolicited advice for Jack, kindly drive around the city on a vehicle unknown to CITOM enforcers, in order to candidly observe & assess what areas need to be drastically improved. Such as having a Jeepney Stop a few meters away from a Fly-over or PUJs making instant terminals, etc.

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Another reader also sent us email about their concern in Cabancalan, Mandaue City from Jun Pobre. 

Here is his email:

I am a resident of Cabancalan, Mandaue and one of the major problems we have is that motorcab commuters plying from Maguikay to Cabancalan intersection (going to Ta-lamban) walk from Emerald subdivision to the Cabancalan corner because motorcabs are not allowed to proceed to that corner. CITOM apprehends them and impounds their motorcabs. The reason given is that the franchise route of these motorcabs is only good for Mandaue area and going beyond Emerald is already under Cebu City which is not covered by the franchise.

The daily commuters are mostly office workers and students and the distance we walk is easily 500 meters. You can imagine the heat or the rains and the hazards we have to go through. For commuters who don't want to walk, there are "habal-habals" available from the Cabancalan corner to Emerald, but I believe these habal-habals are also colo-rum. 

The question here is that whereas before these motorcabs were allowed to ply the complete route, why is it that it is only now that they are restricted? The sad thing about this is nobody from the government is lifting a finger to solve this dilemma. Can we please call the attention of the concerned entities regarding this?

Perhaps the cities of Mandaue and Cebu, together with LTO and CITOM, can sit down and do something about this.

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For your comments, complaints and suggestions please feel free to get in touch with us through 2531276 or 2538613 local 237.

You can also send email to [email protected].