Permanence please?

A motorcycle rider who was arrested last Monday reasoned that he did not realize that the MMDA was once again enforcing the rule on using “Motorcycle Lanes.” People might call it a cheap excuse but in a country where rules and laws are enforced with as much seasonality and unpredictability, who could blame the guy for doubting the announcements. There is no doubts that the rule on the use of a designated Motorcycle Lane is good, but the question I asked myself last Monday was: Where is it? There were so many areas where the Motorcycle Lane was not properly marked and the painted lanes where rubbed out or extremely faded. The MMDA should not be excused or remiss of their responsibility to properly mark, refresh or repaint the lanes. In fact the lane should have a more permanent marker since we now live in an era where motorcycles and scooters are part of the standard modes of transport. The permanent lane might also help make the rule a permanent rule!

I also heard the MMDA spokesperson appeal to car owners to try and give priority to motorcycle riders in the use of the assigned lane. Why not simply assign the lane to motorcycles since the idea is to provide safety for all motorists? Cars can share with trucks and buses since cars are bigger and have more structural protection that motorcycles don’thave. By doing so, more people will probably use motorcycles and scooters once they learn they can safely drive through the major roads. If this is too much to ask, the other option is to put a time period or window such as rush hours when cars can jointly use the lanes with motorcycles. If the MMDA were a little more creative they could make the lane a little narrower but place permanent barriers and limited access points for cars or similar type vehicles. A number of cities such as Marikina have designated lanes strictly for bikes but because the lanes are merely painted, accidents still occur. The narrower lane leaves some space that “might” create the added lane for cars.

I don’t know if the MMDA “rule” has the body and substance of a law or if it is just another memorandum that can be overruled or ignored by a Mayor or future appointees to the MMDA. If it isn’t a law as of yet, then it should be made a law and there should be a provision where the concerned MMDA officials who fail to enforce the law or maintain the lanes can be taken to the Ombudsman by one of the several commuters organizations or motorcycle clubs. Once the people in charge know they can end up in court or go to jail for failing to maintain the safe environment for riders and to continually enforce the “Law,” chances are this rule will be here to stay and there would be legislative incentive and penalty to do it properly. Newbie Congressmen in need of a bill or law to propose in Congress can pick up the lament of the MMDA spokesperson as well as the media that anybody can just buy a motorcycle and not be required to undergo “drivers education.” Not only is there a need to make this a requirement, there should also be a law requiring it.

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On another topic but something also requiring legislation, so many “small” businesses and owners have been complaining about “delayed” payments or companies paying suppliers and other businesses way longer than the traditional 90 days waiting period before checks can be deposited, claimed or cleared.

It seems that many credit and collection people are having nightmares because payment periods have deteriorated from 90 days to 180 days. What actually makes the situation bad is the collective sum of “uncollected payments” reach anywhere from P10 to P15 million for small Mom and Pop type operations. Such an amount stretches the finances, limits operational capacities and seriously hurts the competitiveness of small businesses. Some find themselves unable to expand or requiring “bridge financing” because all their legitimate earnings are held back by clients and customers whose companies and operations are far bigger than theirs! Such excessive delays in payments should be made ILLEGAL  as much as it is immoral. Even the Bible points out that you should never hold back the wages of a man. Ten to P15 million is a lot bigger than the wages of one man!

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Don’t look now but the DOLE is clearly doing the  “One step forward – Two step backward” dance concerning the issue on abolishing contractualization. It won’t surprise me one bit if the DOLE decides to dance with the “contractors” and push for a compromise crafted and designed by contractor lobbyists since they have shamelessly publicly paraded themselves in each other’s company. Forget the bold campaign promise of President Duterte since he has at least once talked about being overruled or out-voted by his cabinet members. In the case of contractualization I figure that the cabinet members concerned will also be overruled by the rulers of Philippine business. So much for fighting alleged oligarchs if Malacanang can’t even overrule lobbyists!

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Returning from a 5-day trip in Japan, I immediately went through an “Internet Culture shock” in Metro Manila. After 5 days of instant high speed internet connection anywhere in Japan with the help of a pocket WIFI, I found myself gritting my teeth as I was forced to slow down and reduce my use and dependency on the local internet! Imagine going from “Instant” to waiting up to three minutes before you can upload or surf a site! Not only was my mobile internet slow, I quickly discovered that I had not internet connection at home due to a system failure in the Pasig/ Mandaluyong area. No we are not a backward third world country, we are merely a nation with one of the slowest poorest quality internet services and this is a serious obstacle to our growth and progress. Will there be a politically inspired solution to the problem or will it be just another item to list down as merely an “election promise?”: do not redeem.

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