Not afraid enough

Even before we take off for Puerto Galera, Mindoro some folks have already warned us about going to “The Strip” at a “popular beach front” in Puerto Galera because it looks more like a girlee bar strip relocated from Mabini, Manila to Puerto Galera. Those well-meaning folks probably did not want our vacation ruined by bars featuring suggestive dance shows, gay impersonators, and the over-all impression of being in a meat market in Thailand than a family place in Mindoro.

Out of courtesy, I chose not to tell them that I had in fact walked through the so-called strip a few weeks before and had taken in the scene and given that the strip was a long public beach, the best thing to do was look for a place of your choice that appealed to your taste and your sense. On the other hand I bring up this story in case the local officials, Governor Umali and the business operators there might be interested in working together to develop the strip commonly called “White Beach” into a more pleasant, mix-use/multi purpose place with a “Promenade” just like Senator Frank Drilon and his Ilonggo kababayans did in Iloilo. Puerto Galera has always been that place with so much potential and promise and they could all benefit from development and cooperation and taking things to a higher level.

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It seems that the Fear for President Duterte has not rubbed off on the LTFRB or the IACT. The fact that bus operators and drivers continue to violate the most basic of safety requirements shows that the LTFRB and LTO have not sown enough fear or earned respect for the law among the people and companies they regulate. Either the penalties are too small, affordable or because the regulators or law enforcers don’t really do their jobs well enough or tough enough. It also means “walang na sa-sampolan” or hardly anybody ever gets punished.

Just before the All Souls Day exodus out of Manila happened last weekend, IACT officials made a big production of their “surprise” inspection of the bus terminals in Cubao. Nothing new there and I for one appreciate their effort, but when the team discovered a number of serious violations, I realized that the IACT, especially the LTFRB has to actually punish violators instead of merely giving a warning or a sermon to bus drivers, conductors and owners found in violation of code. If no one gets punished no one learns. Suspensions are mere inconvenience not penalty.

The question is why does the LTFRB or IACT simply tells operators not to use said vehicles. Why do violating operators get warnings while private car owners get tickets through no contact apprehension? Even before the Duterte Administration came into power, these “surprise inspections” have taken place mostly to show that the LTFRB and LTO are positive for a different form of AIDS: As If Doing Something. Some of my sources told me during the Pre-DU30 period that the reason those Task Forces never punished operators was because there was a protection fund being paid by a group to make sure regulators don’t punish them.

Unless the cost to violate the law is commensurate to loss of business or franchise or license, nothing will change and the operators and drivers will carry on chanting their motto: “NO FEAR”… of the LTFRB – LTO or IACT.

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I’m sure that IACT officers already know the fact that many NON-Aircon buses are not popular with commuters. Whether it’s a regular working day or long holiday, anyone can see that non-aircon buses often run half empty. The problem is there are a number of these buses that simply eat up a lot of road space and contribute to the congestion especially during after the rush hours where they pile up on EDSA. Why not phase out “NON-Aircon buses” and require bus operators to install air-conditioners for the comfort of commuters.

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As a card carrying Senior Citizen and someone who might qualify as a Person With Disability due to serious spinal compression and sciatica, I fully appreciate the comfort and convenience that wheelchairs offer at our many airports. But I’ve noticed lately that a number of people who don’t really need an airport wheelchair or assistance have been making requests and using the arrangement just to get in front of the line or to have someone push them through. To make matters worse they also bring in their “companion/s” who get to go ahead or actually jump the line all because of people pretending to be infirmed or PWD.

I find this unacceptable considering there are limited numbers of wheelchairs and attendants, not to mention that there are more than enough people who really need to use a wheelchair and are delayed or forced to wait because some selfish devious fat ass pretends to be in need of a wheelchair. The Airport authorities have to come up with a rule on who can avail of a wheelchair as well as punishment or penalty for lazy assed pretenders to the chair.

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I’m not sure if the Sharia Courts fall under the Supreme Court but a reader in Jolo, Sulu asked us to call the attention of Chief Justice Sereno regarding the practice of some Judges of Sharia Courts who don’t regularly come to work or hold session because their area or place of assignment is far from their place of residence. Litigants are apparently upset about having to wait for months for their “Judge” to show up and hear their cases. The reader also mentioned the need to recognize the ethnicity or what “Tribe” those judges come from because this reportedly affects the dedication and willingness of a Judge to do his work. “Since they are not from our tribe they often have the “They can wait” mentality and that is what has been happening in a number of cases that have not even been read, studied or reviewed by Judges for four months at a time!