Refocusing on
local problems

The hullabaloo over the Makati standoff Thursday has realigned our attention to national issues, including possible media repression.

It is time for us to devote some time to our own local woes that affect us more directly. And something which we can address to be solved immediately by calling attention to them.

For example, I was flabbergasted yesterday to see baby buses, Cebro, of the Bacolod-Escalante route, recapturing the Sixth Street extension and Lopez Jaena again at terminal. And, I noticed only one or two of them ostensibly waiting for passengers there.

But yesterday, after they had tested it, they were back in full force. And they were joined by jeepneys who parked along the North Drive junction. As usual jeepneys were waiting for debarking commuters.

But the bothersome thing about it, there was no traffic aide around to remind them that was no terminal.

That's what happens when our law enforcers are sleeping on the job.

The same situation occurs daily at the junction of North Drive and the street from Bob's. There one can see public jeepeneys, usually from Bata, three lanes deep while waiting for passengers. And, again, no traffic aides around only barkers.

I have been hammering on the barkers that wave off non-favored jeepneys along Lacson Street fronting Robinsons. So far, I have seen no improvement in the situation. As if signaling that there is an unholy alliance between the barkers and the traffic aides.

And, yes the daily spectacle along Smith Street in downtown Bacolod . There one can immediately spot his favorite fighting cocks. Daily, the tupadas have been going on for ages. But, until now, despite the daily avalanche of calls for the city authorities to stop them and give back the sidewalk to pedestrians, it seems city hall remains deaf.

And, yes, there have lately been complaints of cab drivers at the Bacolod airport fixing fares instead of using taxi-meters. I should know. Barely over a week ago, I got off a car when the driver mentioned to me an atrocious fare from the airport to Capitol Heights .

But who keeps tabs of these things?

And, yes, the potholes along the Circumferential Road are still there. More than enough to discourage motorists wishing to avail of the trip from Montevista to Bata. The same situation with the stretch from Burgos to Mansilingan.

I wonder what is going to happen when the Bacolod new city hall is completed. I foresee a vehicular gridlock. Time for the DPWH and the city to tackle the job of making sure that the road will be passable not only by cane trucks but also by smaller vehicles.

And, yes, talipapas sprouting left and right all over the city. And nobody seems to be reminding them that they are not supposed to be where they have constructed their hayob-hayob and even, permanent structures.

Oh, well, we have just started with a few rejoinders. We shall continue to remind city officials about them and our concerns.*

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