Fixing the SCATS to better serve the public

That the City of Cebu's Bids and Awards Committee-Technical Group has awarded to the Cebu 7H Technochem Industries, Inc. a contractor to help the Cebu City Traffic Operations and Management (Citom) operate the traffic signal lights a.k.a. Sydney Coordinated Automatic Traffic System (SCATS) is a step in the right direction. This is what is called "Outsourcing" because the private sector can do things better and faster than the government because of its internal… err, or should I say infernal bureaucracy.

A mere changing of a busted bulb for instance is a good example. Usually, Citom always prepare spares for this eventuality; however, when the spares run out it practically takes forever to replace a bulb. More so when more important things get busted like the mainframe computer or the computers placed along the corners. Right now a lot of traffic signal lights are inoperative because someone out there is fixing the system.

There are many other items that could get busted just within Citom's Traffic Control Center, which was a perennial problem during my time. By outsourcing the maintenance of the SCATS Traffic System, we can extend the usable life of this hundred million pesos investment.

Now that the City of Cebu has found the right way to maintain this high-tech traffic signal system, I exhort the members of the Cebu City Council to move forward and invest in a more modern traffic system that should complement the SCATS system, which we already have in place. I'm referring to the Closed-Circuit Video Camera system that would be placed in strategic intersections. The tv cameras would eliminate human contact during apprehension, as the tv camera would only record the plate number of the offending vehicle violating the traffic rules.

This system is already well used in London and many American cities are following suit not only because it promotes discipline amongst vehicle drivers, but it is also a great tool in fighting criminality. For instance, after robbing the bank, the whereabouts of the robbers can immediately be traced so that the police can go on a hot pursuit against these criminals.

I have heard that the cost of this system has since gone down and this price reduction should be an advantage to Cebu City. Of course, this system won't work if we do not put a cap on the number of times a motorist violates our traffic laws. This is why I have always advocated for a "Strike Three, You're Out Policy" in enforcing traffic rules and then we shall see sanity return to our streets.

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I fully agree with the suggestion of Police Regional Office (PRO) Director Chief Supt. Silverio Alarcio that Cebu should have a total ban on firearms during the 12th ASEAN Leader's Summit. This is one way to stop petty criminality from spreading especially when our foreign visitors are here. The various gun clubs can sacrifice for a whole week by not firing their firearms; after all, what's a week?

More important than the firearms is the continued instant roadblocks that we already seen especially in the evening. However, I don't see much of this during daytime, perhaps because they might cause unnecessary traffic jams. But it's worth looking since criminals usually do their nefarious activities during daytime.

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Remember when the SuperCat services between Cebu and Tagbilaran suddenly stopped then we heard a loud howl from passengers who got used to the quality service given by SuperCat? Well, I read in The Freeman yesterday that SuperCat would resume its Cebu-Tagbilaran operations tomorrow. Eighteen months ago, SuperCats were pulled out of service because of a host of reasons, ranging from high fuel cost and loss of passengers.

Yes, many passengers often scrimp by taking a V-hire to the town of Tubigon 40 kilometers from Tagbilaran City, then they take a ferry boat from Tubigon to cross to Cebu and save a few bucks. But then, doing so means a lot of hassle. I should know. I also took this route so I could see or experience this trip for myself. But then, the foreign tourists do not want to experience the hassle of moving their bags or belongings from the hotel van to the V-Hire, then take them down again to board the ferry.

This is why SuperCat became the favorite ride of foreign tourists because of their high standard and quality of service. I hope that the resumption of the services of the SuperCat to Tagbilaran would be profitable for the SuperCat Fast Ferry Corporation so they would always serve this route.

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