FREELANCER: Waterways, Checkpoints

Operations against unregistered vehicles, vehicles with expired registration and those without proper road safety devices, and also against drivers without license or expired license, are necessary.

I did not, and do not complain, being flagged down in the highway for inspection by operatives of the Land Transportation Office, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, or the Highway Patrol Group.

My only suggestion for LTO, LTFRB and the HPG, when they resume such operations, is to avoid conducting such operations during rush hours. Flagging down passenger vehicles and even private cars before the 8 a.m. rush will only delay students in schools as well as workers.

I aired this suggestion years ago and I even called the attention of a local LTO official. Though I am not claiming for the changes the operatives have done after that, mine was just a suggestion.

If the operatives these days deem it better to start the conduct of highway inspections before 8 in the morning, so be it. Perhaps they have a better reason.

***

Waterways

The massive clearing of waterways in Bacolod being undertaken as ordered by Mayor Greg Gasataya to minimize the effects of flooding while some major flood control projects are ongoing and others are still being studied, must be supported not only by barangay and purok officials.

Residents must also fully cooperate by heeding the oft-repeated calls to avoid throwing garbage in drainage channels, canals, creeks, and rivers.

Despite last year’s series of clearing and desilting of creeks and rivers, tons and tons of silt, garbage and other debris are still being collected in Bacolod waterways these days. It shows that indeed many do not care.

This is evident also when I pass by everyday at the Lupit Bridge along Araneta Street that connects Gaisano Grand Mall and Lechonan Country. The river below teems with floating garbage come high or low tide. In the river below the Magsungay Bridge that connects Lacson Extension and Alijis-Murcia Road, same situation.

Perhaps our Sangguniang Panlungsod Committee on Environment chair, Councilor Homer Bais can revisit ordinances that impose sanctions against those ignoring proper garbage disposal, or may make amendments, or draft a more effective ordinance, and have those local laws strictly imposed.

Councilor Bais recently exposed the failure of garbage collector IPM Construction in carrying out some of its contracted tasks, resulting in the imposition of a P1 million fine.
Indeed SPM Bais, uncollected garbage is among the causes of clogged waterways that result in rising flood waters, and we have experienced that lately.

Let alone the issues about climate change, because even highly-developed countries with financial muscles, technical and technological capabilities, and mitigating flood control infrastructures, are no match to nature’s wrath.

What is important is the Bacolod government’s continuing clearing and desilting of waterways and other preparations to be ready and to mitigate the effects of the next torrential rains and flooding in the city. This must be sustained.* (APT)