The road-sharing experiment in four major thoroughfares in Cebu City last Sunday, from what I heard and read so far, was more of a failure.
It resulted in monstrous traffic jams in some areas. Drivers cursed the activity. Half of the affected roads were practically empty while the other half had heavy traffic crawling. Others said they were not made aware of the activity, although I know the organizers did their job of informing the public.
Organizers in the Movement for a Livable Cebu should not be discouraged by the outpouring of negative sentiments. Instead, these must be viewed as a challenge to work harder to convince people of the rationale of the scheme.
For one, I agree with the purpose of providing people who have no cars a space on the road. After all, majority of the population don’t own cars. They are the ones deprived of the use of the road.
Let’s take note of this: 95 percent of the roads are used and occupied by people who are rich and have cars.
Those who disapprove of the road sharing scheme should remember that the advocacy may bring good things to their lives like cleaner air and the chance to get some exercise.
Let’s get out of our comfort zones and support a scheme that would eventually benefit us. I hope that next time, drivers will be more understanding and cooperative in making the activity successful.
To the complaining private car owners, you should be ashamed of yourselves. For six days a week you have the roads all to yourselves. For a few hours of one Sunday, we try the road sharing scheme, yet you complain. Doesn’t this show that indeed, you are selfish and think only of yourselves.
The Cebu city government should declare a car-less day the next time the road sharing scheme is tried so that people are encouraged to go to the streets and walk, bike or do other things on the road. Organizers will just have to educate the people some more about the benefits of the project, sans criticism from others.
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I cannot fathom the recent behavior of President Aquino, who when he was abroad blamed former president Gloria Macapagal Arroyo for the problems today.
If he is as good as he professes to be, then Aquino should move on, accept the challenges confronting the country today and not blame anyone because the buck stops with the chief executive. His game of blaming his predecessors would instead show his failure to adopt a proactive stance. Aquino should be man enough to accept responsibility for what is happening to the country and the government.
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The Senate should stop its investigation of Vice President Binay. A legislative investigation should be conducted in aid of legislation. What’s happening is an investigation in aid of reelection.
Congress has conducted many investigations and so far, they have not passed a law related to what they have investigated.
These congressional investigations have become a ploy to increase the political stock of those eyeing for higher posts. Instead of working for public interest, they are just wasting people’s money.
Witnesses are supposedly spilling the beans on Binay but it’s unfortunate that they are under the government’s witness protection program.
They are playing safe; no charges will be filed against them especially since they admitted accepting money from contractors or Binay. They have not presented evidence that would stand up in court.
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