Communication they say is a fair exchange of views, information and opinion. Last week “the office of the Presidential spokesperson” sent out an email stating:
Dear All,
Please find attached Good News from the Government for the week of May 16-20, 2011.
For your information, reference, and dissemination.
To be fair, all the good news was about how various departments and agencies had saved money Department of Budget, collected more money (BIR), gave away money (Pagcor) and stopped people from stealing their money (a syndicate targeting Pagcor).
What the communications group seems to misunderstand is that their definition of good news is not the same as the definition that applies to ordinary citizens.
Rather than lecture them, I have decided to send them my own collection of communications from a number of readers. This way, it is not the opinion of an Opinion Writer that PNoy reads but the opinion of real citizens on one topic.
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RE: “Opportunity knocks for PNoy”
“I have lived here in the Province in Laguna for the past 10 + years I am from the US and it is even more scary than what your talking about. Tricycles making U-turns or weaving in and out of traffic, motorcycles being driven like the drivers are invincible weaving in and out of traffic, going the wrong way, wearing no helmets and the worst of all is with four people on one small motorcycle. I have seen the whole family riding on a cycle with a driver, three kids and a wife and no helmet.
Jeepney’s that stop in the middle of the road with no brake or working tail lights. Buses that will pass on the National Highway and force you off the road to get by, tricycles that are I understand not legal on the National Highway blocking traffic. I also am very upset with the jeepney’s that are allowed to run with tires that are so bald that the cord shows through. Jeepney’s and buses that smoke so much it is like a smoke screen laid down for cover to conceal an invasion of troops.
It is an opportunity for the President but I fear that he will not take this problem on as it would be very unpopular and I don’t think he has the heart for that kind of heat.
Mr. S
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I hope our dear President Aquino will heed your suggestion and grab the opportunity to be a great leader.
Good traffic flow and in an orderly matter will show that his country has discipline. It will be a showcase of national discipline, to be more specific.
He must appoint soonest a Traffic Czar, who must know traffic, concentrate all his efforts on traffic, and do nothing but traffic: eat and sleep with traffic in mind, and must be close to the President so that he can request for Administrative or Executive Order to bring order in our chaotic traffic condition.
JOHNNY ANGELES, Vice President, Automobile Association Philippines
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I once asked an MMDA why they do not apprehend buses, and he replied “Oh we are not supposed to do that. Violations of buses are captured on cameras”. Is this true? If true, why the special treatment?
Buses make any and every place a bus stop now. They do so with impunity. They weave in and out of the yellow lanes. Why??? I guess because they are untouchable? Or they feel they are.
Have you ever been on Buendia crossing over Makati Avenue going to Edsa? Never stay in the right lane, because when the light is green, Jeepney’s will not move. They will simply not move. They will wait till they pick up passengers.
I was here during martial law, the only good thing I saw was in the first year, suddenly everyone became so disciplined. Because they were scared.
I remember the slogan, Sa Ika-uunlad ng bayan, disiplina ang kailangan.
Do we need fear to make us disciplined?
Can we not just simply get disciplined?
Mr. Das
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I hope you make a total overhaul of the Road Safety Systems in the Philippines your personal crusade. The problem is a mix of corruption and incompetence.
What’s needed is a holistic solution for which a Commission is probably a necessary start.
NOTHING LESS THAN A CITIZENS’ CRUSADE IS NECESSARY. The government, even under Noynoy, ay natutulog lang sa pansitan, mired in politics and laziness and complacency. The people have to rely on ourselves working together — we can’t trust individuals to bail us out.
Enrique, UP Broadcast Comm 1969, (California, USA)
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One example is traffic in EDSA, Cubao. Maybe the reason is that people aren’t doing what they’re supposed to do. Drivers are not obeying traffic rules, the traffic enforcers are not apprehending these drivers, etc. as a commuter I see this everyday. And our taxes are used to pay these useless “enforcers”. I don’t believe Filipinos are undisciplined. I worked abroad and people who violate the law regardless of nationality are apprehended. And Filipinos there obey Traffic rules. So it is the government’s fault, they are not doing their job.
In my job we have key performance indicators (kpi). If we don’t achieve these, we could lose our jobs.
Mel. B
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I agree with your article. In fact, this could be a tipping point as Metro Manila traffic is really a microcosm of Philippine society in general. If this problem can be fixed, I will certainly change my view of the DNP (Do Nothing President).
Many aspects of our traffic situation is a function of the dysfunction in our society!
A.S
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There more opportunities that knock for P-Noy. If only he would take them and run with them.
Your article does not mention the proliferation of motorbikes on our roads and the terrible noise they are ALLOWED to make by using non-standard mufflers. Yes, we are living in a chaotic country where everybody is ALLOWED to behave to his/her own liking. “Civilization begins with order, grows with liberty and dies with chaos!”
Regards,
Bong D-G
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Dear Mr. Beltran,
Greetings! After selling part of the Hacienda Luisita for a hefty sum to the tollways corporation and getting an entry/exit point for SCTEX, a sign is now posted on the private access road advising motorists of a “maintenance fee” of between P20-P100 to be collected effective May, 2011.
Construction of a tollgate is now ongoing. I wouldn’t question the legality of this undertaking because I’m sure their lawyers would say everything is above board. What I would like to point out is the additional burden to motorists and of course the moral issue, it being the President’s family estate.
You might want to help us.
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