By Arthur Keefe
Another
Sunday spoiled by the constant sound of a
Karaoke playing at full volume all day. This is despite a city ruling that such
businesses can only be allowed at the terminal and at the reclamation area.
On
Saturday, a dark blue new Honda car was parked near PNB. It was parked on the
sidewalk and the (nearly invisible now) pedestrian crossing. A motorbike parked
next to it forcing pedestrians into the busy road.
I stopped
a policeman in a patrol vehicle parked nearby and asked him who was responsible
for apprehending the drivers for such dangerous and unlawful behavior. He told
me it was the job of the traffic enforcers and that he would contact them. I
wonder if he did. In any event, the police should deal immediately with
dangerous traffic violations, not merely pass the buck.
A few
weeks ago, the sugar fields just harvested beside Gaisano were ablaze and the
smoke reduced visibility on that busy road to almost zero. As so often, the
powerful landowners ignore the laws on pollution with impunity.
I don't
know if the Chief of Police was shamed into back-tracking on his announcement
that his force will not apply the law requiring motorcyclists to wear helmets
in the City. A week later, a joint LTO-PNP action took place stopping
helmetless riders. None the less, very few still bother to wear a helmet.
Many
motorcyclists also continue to ride with no lights, as do trucks, tricycles
and, of course, pedicabs. Do they realize that when driving along, a car coming
the other way with headlights up so badly adjusted (as so many are), means the
driver cannot see an unlighted vehicle until nearly upon it? The law of course
requires lights front and back, and for very good reasons.
One
helpful initiative has been the issue of reflective tape to pedicabs, but many
have either missed out or chose not to use it.
I recently
had to quickly step out of the way of a motorcycle riding along the sidewalk. I
asked the rider why they were there. They replied they were only riding a short
way, as they had parked on sidewalk. Why? No prospects of apprehension of
course.
I could go
on, and indeed I have written many times about these matters and the absence of
law enforcement. It is not rocket science! In most countries law enforcement is
routine. Even here in the Philippines, there are many places where there is at
least a serious attempt to enforce laws.
These laws
(like those governing environmental protection on land and at sea) are for the
benefit of the majority. They are for public health and safety; they protect
the environment for this and future generations; they are to ensure people can
live together in peace and security. Those who chose to ignore them are putting
their own convenience before the safety or comfort of others. Law enforcement
punishes a personal lack of consideration for others and eventually compliance
becomes the norm. Here non-compliance is the norm. Of course, all enforcement
needs to be tempered. Warnings for first offences instead of immediate fines,
public education explaining the purpose behind the laws, allowance of
exceptions where good reasons exist. An honest police/ LTO/ City Council can
easily apply the law with humanity and even-headedness. Corruption practices of
course cannot be allowed where discretion is exercised for a price I have no
desire to see thousands of vehicles impounded, or many paying fines they can
ill-afford. What is needed is a culture change, where infringements become
exceptional and are dealt with and compliance becomes the norm. A determined
effort by all the bodies concerned could help San Carlos really warrant its
title as the second most livable city of its size anywhere.
At
present, its title is hardly justifiable.
No comments:
Post a Comment