"The Filipino people deserve much, much, much better."
"The Filipino people deserve much, much, much better."
When I think of solutions to the country’s pressing problems being put forward by some government officials, I remember a joke about cockroaches. To arrest cockroach infestation, a househelp was given an insecticide chalk, and told to write on the floor so the roaches would not enter the house. The “kasambahay” dutifully followed the instructions. Her employer had a good laugh when she realized that her nanny wrote, “Epes, hindi ka pwedeng pumasok dito.”
This is not very different from the absurd, ridiculous, and outrageous solutions proposed by some of the “best and the brightest” in government positions. At least, in the case above, the chalk could really work against cockroaches.
Dengue has made a deadly comeback after the Dengvaxia scandal that resulted in the significant dive in vaccine confidence. At least 1,021 died in August due to the dengue epidemic. Because vaccine is no longer available despite demands from medical doctors to bring Dengvaxia back, most local government units resort to encouraging constituents to keep their surroundings clean to avoid breeding mosquitoes.
A barangay captain in Quezon City, Allan Franza, thought differently. He believed that frogs would help curb dengue by eating the mosquitoes. He then had at least 1,000 bull frogs released in esteros. How about cleaning the esteros so the insects would not breed?
Traffic is horrible in Metro Manila. It is a menace that makes life more difficult since ordinary employees spend an average of three to four hours a day in traffic outside of their eight-hour workday six times a week. It is, thus, understandable why Metro Manilans are angry because of traffic.
Sadly, politicians come up with “solutions” that make people angrier.
Rep. Edgar Erice wants to ban private vehicles on EDSA. What good will this do? This will just reroute the traffic to secondary roads where people live and more will be adversely affected. Banning private vehicles on EDSA can work IF public transport is efficient. In many countries, people do not need to regularly bring their cars because their public transportation system is efficient.
We know too well that this is not the case here.
Not to be outdone, the PNP Highway Patrol Group (HPG) is not only back on EDSA, it has even fielded “girl friend material” female “strike force” to help ease traffic on EDSA. The women were hired significantly because of their good looks in the hope of “easing the stress” felt by drivers caught in traffic. If this is not objectifying women and using them as “entertainment” and distraction for men, I do not know what is.
Another “bright” idea to solve traffic is to make EDSA “walkable.” This one is from Quezon City Rep. Allan Benedict Reyes who said that commuters, not private cars, will be given priority. He sees wider sidewalks that can also accommodate bikes and scooters. He imagines that people can walk from Cubao to Ortigas, which, according to him is but a short walk. The good representative, however, did not say where public utility vehicles and cars will be made to pass. At least there was nothing in the reports on this proposal.
The jeepney modernization plan is another proposal. I agree that phasing out old jeepneys and replacing them with modern ones will help minimize breakdowns, and maybe, even accidents on the road. However, making poor drivers and operators pay P2.2 million for a unit of jeepney is outrageous. Few middle class families are able to afford cars this expensive, what makes government think that ordinary operators and drivers can?
And there is the “smart” idea from Ariston Gorospe, a former PAGCOR consultant, to implement a coding scheme based on the make of vehicles. He hopes to reduce traffic by this. How? It is unclear.
Even President Rodrigo Duterte seems to have given up on the traffic problem which he promised to solve in six months after being elected into office. While the riding public continues to suffer in traffic, there are other major problems that equally need real solutions.
Recently, an American woman was caught in the airport trying to smuggle an infant out of the country. She hid the baby in an oversized belt bag. To prevent this from being repeated and also catch those trying to smuggle illegal goods, Manila International Airport Authority General Manager Ed Monreal and the Department of Transportation are studying the possibility of having passengers unload the contents of their baggages at airport security checks.
This idea created an uproar online. People are outraged that officials do not seem to care about the discomfort, delay, and difficulties doing this will cause travelers and the entire airport operations. As it is, one has to allocate at least four hours (including time in traffic) to be on time for one’s flight.
If passengers are required to unpack all luggages for security checks and then repack everything, chaos in airports will be unimaginable. This will not solve problems. This will create more trouble.
Just as people were protesting this, here comes the Chair of the National Youth Commission with the very smart recommendation to have separate classes for female and male students TO ARREST TEENAGE PREGNANCY.
This is outright stupid. Obviously, the NYC Chair does not understand the seriousness and complexities of the problem. Does he seriously believe that separate classes for girls and boys will prevent them from having unprotected sex and, thus, prevent teenage pregnancy? Instead of this ridiculous recommendation, why does he not demand from the Department of Education the full implementation of sexuality and reproductive health education? Why does he not call for the provision of access to RH services for minors?
Truly, these government officials should be careful with their “solutions” to real problems experienced by our people. If they, themselves are not competent, they surely have the resources to hire capable staff and consultants to do their research for them and guide them in the formulation of effective and responsive solutions to the country’s problems.
The Filipino people pay for their services including all the perks they enjoy. The country and the people deserve better, MUCH BETTER.
@bethangsioco on Twitter Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook Blurb: The Filipino people deserve much, much, much better.