Traffic embarrasses proud Cebuano

A reader called us to add to what we wrote last week about the traffic situation on Fridays.

He said, "I used to think that it was because Friday is special for the people, who would go to Basilica (del Santo Niño), but I realized that even the areas far from the Basilica also experience traffic."

The reader said that he now takes his motorcycle on Fridays instead of his car so that he can "wiggle in and out of traffic."

"I miss my younger days when the smooth flow of traffic was something we can brag to our friends from Manila. Taga Cebu gud ta, proud to be one, but now I don't want them to visit because they'll see how bad our traffic situation has become."

* * *

It was recently reported in the newspapers that the CITOM and other agencies will be conducting a drive against habal-habal or motorcycle for hire drivers, who violate the traffic laws.

Our first reaction was that the operation of these vehicles are illegal in the first place, but when we read on, we learned that the authorities have to tolerate them because others have no other means of transportation.

We hope that something really came out of that press release or was it merely for announcement purposes only?

* * *

Another reader called up to add to what we wrote a couple of months ago about our call that only those who have a garage must be allowed to own a vehicle.

He said that he agrees to our observation at how many of his neighbors in their subdivision, which is one of the newer developments in Metro Cebu, seem to have converted their garage into an extra room and park their cars on the streets.

"Sige ta kadungog anang isyu nga dili kalusot ang bombero inig sunog. Sa among lugar, village lagi, pero murag ang batasan sa mga nagpuyo pang squatter man gihapon kay gusto ipiton ang mga muagi."

We suggested that he take the matter up with their neighborhood association, but he said that he had done it, but nothing came out of it.

Maybe subdivision developers can take a look at this matter for their future projects.

We have seen how bad the situation is in some projects that we have visited and had a hard time to move around due to the vehicles that are parked on the road and not on the area designed to be a garage that is now an additional room.

* * *

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].