On some skittish trivia

On August 30, Mandaue City observes its 36th year as a chartered city, whose founding father was late Mayor Demetrio "Boy" M. Cortes. Most young ones have sketchy knowledge how Mayor "Boy" and then Atty. "Matoy" Seno, with Atty. Magno Dionson and other municipal councilors, waged the great fight for its cityhood in Congress. Would the present officialdom fittingly honor them, especially those who are still living, for such historical feat?

Incidentally, tomorrow the 14th instant will be the 84th natal day of Mandaue City's founder and father whose anniversary one reminisces with fond and nostalgic memories.

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Having taken off about Mandaue, one may as well touch on some trivia on local affairs, but not to meddle in such issues, or give advice to the "expert" handlers. It suffices to give space to concerned residents, including those from towns north, particularly the affected motorists and commuters passing through…

One - This refers to the traffic gridlock along the Subangdaku-Basak highway during evenings until 9PM. Of the many observations, the one from a friend in Consolacion appears reasonable and doable. He asks: Can not Mandaue City schedule two eight-hour shifts to man traffic daily including Sunday, viz: 1st shift from 5AM to 1PM, and the 2nd shift taking over from 1PM to 9PM, thereby both shifts serving six days with one off-day per week?

The early morning heavy traffic is covered by Tedmen overload, but starting early evening peak hours, their number gets scarcer with certain choke points unmanned later in the evening. Hence, competing PUJs stop pell-mell and obstruct the highway resulting in traffic anarchy. This is also true on Sunday afternoons, when there's no Tedman on duty.

Two - Many traffic accidents figured along the same highway involving those movable orange-colored dividers between the north-bound and south-bound lanes. Going northward, these are found before reaching the Tipolo bridge, the second is before the foot of the Maguikay overpass, and the third just before reaching the Butuanon bridge.

One need not cut his teeth in traffic expertise to discern that these movable highway dividers pose as night traffic hazards as they are hardly visible, what with blinding vehicle headlights from opposite lanes. Such accidents are avoidable if only reflectorized decals, or whatever, are put up at both ends, and on the sides at staggered intervals. Such measures would free the Mandaue LGU from liability under Article 2189 of the New Civil Code for damages arising from torts or quasi-delicts.

Three - Rep. Roque Ablan's oblique revelation that Umapad druglord suspect Calvin Tan has had "contacts" among the local police, businessmen, and public officials, only breeds unfair speculations. He should supply names, not just expel fart or hot air.

By the way, the cat is now out of the bag that indeed, politically, not all is well between the mayor and his sister, the ABC president. With 23 barangay captains now calling on her to quit as ABC prexy, it appears that the latter's beef that her own brod didn't support her last congressional bid, could be true. Some say that it was the brod's pre-emptive move to make the congressional seat now occupied by the incumbent open to him after expiration of his last mayoralty term.

Others say that this is just the tip of the iceberg on alleged inter-family feud over perceived iniquity about inchoate hereditary matters. Still other impish minds invoke the universal truism that the time has come to feel that weary is the head that wears the crown.

Overall, while as a rule trivia may be brushed aside like the tiny mote in the eye, nonetheless, seemingly little things have a way of crystallizing into bigger concerns that count in public life and governance.