EDITORIAL - Priorities

Talisay City mayor-elect Gerald Anthony "Samsam" Gullas is focusing on two things once he assumes office. He said he will work on ending the city’s perennial problems of flooding and traffic congestion.

The incoming mayor, who will succeed his grandfather, Mayor Eduardo Gullas, wants to review Talisay’s existing master drainage plan, whether it is still relevant and can be adapted under the city’s current condition.

As for the city’s traffic situation, Gullas eyes to utilize barangay officials to help man the streets, especially during peak hours. He also wants to see the real score regarding the city's traffic plan including the lighting system, the truck ban, and the regulation of trisikads and motorcycles-for-hire.

"There are a lot of plans that we want to do especially in specific barangays, in specific corners in Talisay because we cannot have a one-size-fits-all plan in all intersections. We need to work hand-in-hand with the barangays especially in maintaining the traffic signages and road discipline," he said.

As for peace and order, that seems to be absent from Gullas’ priority list for his first days in office. Of course, that is understandable because he knows the city police force can really take care of the situation.

All Gullas has to do is see to it that the city government has all the resources to help the local policemen, considering that a fully-equipped police force is really capable of winning in the campaign against all forms of criminality.

But since Gullas wants to solve the traffic problem, he should not go further than concentrating on the daily gridlock in Tabunok, the city’s busiest district. Being the city’s commercial center, Tabunok, especially the areas surrounding the flyover section, has been choking for years and is in need of immediate attention.

It’s good the incoming mayor sees the need to put premium on traffic solution. This is a step in the right direction in the drive to turn Talisay into an ideal place for investment. However, Gullas needs to make changes fast before it’s too late.