As a Manila resident, I could not help but wish the city’s local officials would have the same concern for pedestrians as Cebu City Mayor Michael Rama seems to have.
Recent newspaper reports said Rama ordered the immediate demolition of structures on sidewalks that block the way of Cebu’s pedestrians. He even wanted railings removed.
In Manila, pedestrians are at risk of being run over by motorists when they walk on the streets or even if they use crosswalks. There are actually very few sidewalks they can use unhampered.
The government itself has allowed the construction of police outposts and barangay halls on sidewalks, and nobody tells business establishments to use space only if they own it.
Some private property owners have fenced off sidewalks in front of their homes, virtually grabbing public land, forcing people to walk on the streets.
Basketball courts have been set up in the middle of the road, so motorists have to stop and wait for the players to call a timeout to allow them to proceed.
Eateries setting up tables and chairs on sidewalks are a common sight, but now, one carinderia near my place serves customers on a section of the street!
Singalong is a two-lane, one-way street. It leads to three big schools—De la Salle University, DLSU-College of St. Benilde and St. Scholastica’s College—and is an alternative route to Osmeña Highway when traffic is at a standstill on Quirino Avenue. But it is hardly an escape from heavy traffic on Quirino anymore. Vehicles are parked on both sides day and night, turning Singalong into a one-lane street. Motorists have to use the middle of the road. When schools open, traffic becomes even more nightmarish.
Incidentally, after the initial “enthusiasm” to make drivers of pedicabs and tricycles follow traffic rules, they are back to their old merry ways, going wherever they want, even against traffic, and bullying motorists to get out of their way.
Will we ever get local officials who will truly try to restore Manila to its old glory? It is sad to see a once proud city fall apart because of apathy and failure to enforce rules.
In Cebu, Rama walked the city streets so he could see the problem. Do Manila’s local officials ever get out of their air-conditioned offices and cars after the campaign season to find out what ails the city?
At the rate Manila keeps deteriorating from bad to worse, we may just need to move the center of government to some other place that does not look as dirty and rundown.
Attention: Everlines
A passenger, who takes the Ever Queen of Asia-Pacific—a ship serving the Zamboanga-Jolo-Tawi-Tawi route—is asking Everlines Shipping Company, owner of the vessel, to ease the discomfort of travelers.
The passenger says the ship has only two electric fans for the entire third deck, making the trip extremely uncomfortable for travelers, particularly children and the elderly. Obviously, the sea breeze is not enough to cool down high temperatures in the ship.
For the passenger’s and other travelers’ sake, I hope Everlines reads this and tries to ease the situation.
Send letters to The Consumer, Lifestyle Section, Philippine Daily Inquirer, 1098 Chino Roces Ave. cor. Mascardo and Yague Sts., 1204 Makati City; fax 8974793/94; or e-mail [email protected].
