Illegal parking

A reader called us up last week to complain about the inaction of authorities on the rampant illegal parking of vehicles in the narrow roads around barangay Lahug particularly in the area of Tojong, Apitong, Kamagong and a few other streets.

The reader said that there have already been several complaints about the matter that were sent to CITOM, but no action has been taken.

We pass by the area some times on our way to Capitol from the Cebu Business Park and we agree with the caller that there is really a need to rid the streets of the vehicles that are parked illegally.

One problem that we brought up in this column a couple of years ago are the jeepney drivers that have used one area as their garage during noontime after they eat from a push cart that sells food.

This place is one of the nicest areas to live in as you are near the business district, but at the same time, the area is not really that crowded considering that most of the buildings here are old houses.

The problem with the area can still be solved if action will immediately be taken. If the authorities ask that the citizens take an active role in making our city a better place to live in, then there must also be action taken on the complaints.

Maybe the towing companies that have been commissioned by the city haven't gone around these areas yet.

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One reason why the roads are congested is the fact that anybody can just buy a vehicle even if that person doesn't even have a garage to park the vehicle in.

Try going into the many subdivisions that have sprouted all over Cebu and you will notice that vehicles are parked on the road since the houses don't have a garage or what should have been one has been converted into another room.

The worst are those in the areas that are considered as public. Try driving through Lorega and you have vehicles there that are parked on the road without regard that it makes the place difficult for the public to pass through.

Sometimes it is difficult to make the people understand the need to park their vehicles in the proper areas because even the government, like barangay Lorega, cannot follow the simple rules.

While giving the barangays, vehicles allows the city and national officials to have year-round campaigning as their faces are plastered on these vehicles, the barangays without a proper place to park the huge vehicles must not be given one.

Also, drivers of the barangay vehicles must bear in mind that they cannot violate the law even in their fiefdom so park those vehicles properly and don't hamper the flow of traffic.

Matters about illegally parked vehicles, however, only come up when there are fires and the fire trucks cannot pass through. We don't have a wait for a fire to learn our lessons.

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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].