Last October 11, 2008 (Saturday ) many motorists were surprised to see " DO NOT ENTER SIGNAGES" in some parts of the Public Market. Traffic aids and officers were instructing the motorists to follow the new system correctly. It was a new system for the great majority. People were surprised about the new set up. Upon conversation with the traffic officers , they said they are conducting a dry run of the proposed one way system in the public market. The dry run will be for the period of four(4)days.
As a concern citizen, I took the initiative of documenting the traffic flow hoping that the same can help in the implementation of the new system. As a matter of fact, I submitted the said document to the Chairman of the SB Committee on Transportation a couple of minutes before the start of the committee hearing yesterday. I cited matters like: (a) traffic flow is quite impressive with the new system (b) consider the income of the business in the public market as well as the collection of the Economic Enterprise Management Office; (c) consider the reactions and comments of the tricycle drivers and passengers; and other details.
Yesterday (October 15, 2008), motorists were also surprised after seeing that the one way system has been suspended. The dry run had garnered diversified feedbacks from the public. It had revealed both advantages and disadvantages. Among the many things that is obvious is the reality that there was no massive information about the dry run per se. People were not aware that the new system was just experimental. Consequently, the suspension of the dry run also happenned very quickly. Traffic officers removed some of the DO NOT ENTER signages. Other signboards were just turned sidewards and the motorists begun to get confused. Some bus drivers were not aware that the one way system has already been suspended. This phenomenon had almost brought me to an accident last night.
A while ago, at around 6:00 PM I was nearly nearly hit by a Weena Bus coming from Davao City going to Cotabato . I entered the public market following the way of Viacrusis St. (fronting petron) because the DO NOT ENTER SIGN was not already installed in the that place. When I reached the curve section adjacent to the bridge and Centeno building, I noticed the same thing,…the DO NOT ENTER SIGN was not there anymore. Seeing this, I drove straight to the usual lane going to the terminal, when suddenly an air-conditioned Weena Bus going to Kidapawan also occupied the same lane. The bus driver thought that the one way system is still effective. On the other hand, I contemplated that the one way system was suspended because the DO NOT ENTER SIGNAGE were already removed. I had no other choice except to give way to prevent further trouble. Bystanders can testify that I was riding a white multivan with my wife as my sole passenger.
I immediately, asked the weena conductors and dispatchers if they were informed of the changes. The answer was NO. To my mind, I cannot blame my co- motorists because we were not properly informed regarding the result of the DRY RUN. In my conversation with other motorists, they pointed out that they do not even know that the One Way System is still a Dry Run.
I don’t simply give comments; I proposed alternatives because I believe that we all wanted a peaceful and well-developed local economy. My wife and I had almost lost our innocents lives a while ago. With this phenomenon, I am proposing these alternatives to our town's elected officials:
a. The public must be well informed regarding the duration of the dry run. Simple fliers and streamers may be posted and displayed in the conspicuous places to bring about awareness to the public, rather than just simply putting “DO not Enter” warning devices which are written in bond paper and cartolina using pentel pen . The public must be properly informed by means of announcement, posting and other related means.
b. Traffic officers and personel must coordinate with the management of the passenger buses and other motorists regarding the effectivity of the dry run as well as the suspension of the one way system to prevent accident.
c. All traffic warning devices shall be completely removed if a particular area is already open for entrance and exit rather than just simply turning them aside which may often create confusion to the public.
d. Traffic warning devices shall be presentable because they are government properties. Some of our DO NOT ENTER SIGNAGES are just written on bond papers and cartolina using marker pens.
I guess, the problem here is about COMMUNICATION GAP among the policy makers, traffic officers and personel and the public. I do believe that all of us deserved the right to be properly informed so as to prevent accidents and chaos. We should not place the lives of our people at risks. Laws and rules are designed to create order in the community. However, if they are not properly implemented, the exact opposite might possibly happen.
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