Road Revolution - my own calvary

Much has been said about the Road Revolution which took place in Cebu City two weeks ago. Articulated in the radio and print media, the reactions were generally negative, some mildly critical, others openly antagonistic. To say that most Cebuanos were against that experiment is a toned-down way of saying it: Most Cebuanos – the city residents, particularly – were angry about it!

To understand why, here’s my own experience on that second R.R. initiated on September 24, a Saturday. I left home in Bulacao, this city, at eight o’clock in the morning to confer with some graduate school faculty in the university where I work. From that barangay to Mambaling, and South Coastal Road to the intersection of M.C. Briones and Lapulapu streets, it took me only 15 minutes.

But there my calvary began. The road was stocked tight with a double row of vehicles going bumper to bumper. After some 10 minutes I reached P. Gomez Street where I wanted to turn left. But a no-entry standee was placed so I edged slowly along the same road and after a long time I reached V. Gullas Street where for several more minutes I got stuck before being able to turn left. I was hoping that despite the traffic I could easily reach the corner of D. Jakosalem where I planned to turn right. But when I got to that portion where Burgos Street starts, we were made to turn left towards the Cebu Metropolitan Cathedral. Yes, they want us to pass in front of the church to P. Gomez, I told myself. But at the end of the stretch, a team of traffic enforcers directed us, (of all routes!) to turn left again through Urdaneta Street and into M.J. Cuenco Avenue! What a big joke – we were made to circle around, then forced into a roadway far from our destination.

Even then, I was hoping M.J. Cuenco would be an easy sailing. But no, it was the same turtle pace affair, and when we came upon the Bonifacio Street opening, where we intended to turn left, we got stuck again. After more frustrating wait we were finally heading or rather crawling towards our destination, for even the vehicles were fighting for space.

At the spot where Ibarra and Bonifacio streets intersect, we did a left turn but that heretofore lonely road was now packed tight with vehicles and it took us several minutes more before entering Zamora Street where, like the other roadways, PUJs, private cars and SUVs were on start and slide state. From that spot to D. Jakosalem intersection, the distance is only about 100 meters, but it took us about 10 minutes to negotiate it. As expected, the spot that opens to Sanciangko from D. Jakosalem was a bottle-neck and to go through it we spent more agonizing minutes.

At long last I reached the Sanciangco gate of the University. I looked at my watch: 9:30! Or one hour and thirty minutes from Bulacao to my destination and a solid one hour late for my appointment! What a hassle and what a loss of work hour! Worse, I also lost a lot of fuel because I was on the road much longer than usual.

The question now is who will pay for my losses? Who will pay the other R.R. victims for their losses? I saw those hapless commuters packed tight in PUJs enduring heat and the exhaust of all types of motor carriers. How many were also late for work that day? How many could not make it to their appointments? Pity the PUJ and taxi drivers too. One or two hours of delayed trips translated into sizeable reduction of earnings for that day.

The geniuses behind R.R. apologized for the sufferings they had caused the hundreds or thousands of Cebuanos with their “revolution” folly. But even as this was done, another R.R. was being planned!

Good heavens, who will save us from sadistic environmentalists in our midst?