Res Gestae
Traffic, Barias, Bautista and auxiliary cops
Ironically, by "rush hour" we mean the most unholy (unruly) hour of the day. It is when traffic clogs up in our streets with the undisciplined populace aggravating the mess. I am certain that traffic jam is not only the making of calloused drivers. Most people willed it willingly. Of course, I won't exclude the fact that most (read: all) of our overpasses (constructed to ease the traffic) are most of the time being "bypassed'! Anyway who would want to use this millions-worth of overpasses if doing so would endanger one at stepping on a "landmine" carelessly planted by the vagabonds? While the controversies surrounding the constructions of these eyesores apparently died a natural death, I can't still avoid relating the traffic problem to these unserviceable projects.
Traffic menace is one of the unresolved problems in Iloilo City. Though regulating the entrance of provincial buses and jeepneys has alleviated the problem in some degree, the prevailing factors of traffic remain at stake. Thus, I believe that the establishment of boundaries for provincial transport vehicles has insignificantly made an impact on traffic problem. Rather, it only burdens the commuters, especially the students and vendors.
Recently, however, the problem on traffic has partly been given a solution. Thanks to the innovative mind of Police Regional Director PCSupt Geary L. Barias. If you have observed the smooth flow of traffic along the major streets in Iloilo City, especially from 7:00 to 9:30 o'clock in the evening, it is because of PCSupt Barias' project dubbed as "Katawhayan kag Kalinungan sa Dalan", which deploys 14 police personnel from PRO 6 Headquarters to render traffic service.
Being myself a witness to the success of this project, I wonder how soon the other streets in the city be given similar attention. I no longer expect it from PCSupt Barias. It's enough that he sets a standard. So, I rather pose the challenge to PSSupt Norlito Bautista, the City Director of Iloilo City Police Office. I salute this officer for his capability and I am confident that he can also devise a doable system similar to that of PCSupt Barias'. Thus, to him I say: "Sir Norly, deal or no deal?"
This brainchild of PCSupt Barias, which creates a difference in this busiest street of the city, has already earned the support of Iloilo City government, business sectors and those people who have respect to peace and order. But, that is only one side of the coin, the other side is that not everyone, particularly the drivers, is pleased of the project.
Most drivers are disgruntled of how the personnel from PRO 6 Headquarters implement the 'basic' traffic rules and regulations. Yes, these police personnel (some of them are policewomen -- another unique feature of the project) are not doing extra-ordinary functions; they simply teach, if not remind, drivers of the 'basics', that is, the compliance to traffic signs. Such is a mandate which auxiliary cops are ought to carry out but obviously have failed to do so, resulting to the lingering traffic mess.
For almost a month now, PCSupt Barias' "Katawhayan kag Kalinungan sa Dalan" is gaining momentum as drivers become cognizant of the presence of police personnel in several road intersections along the stretch of J.M. Basa and Iznart Streets from 7:00 to 9:30 o'clock in the evening. And, obviously, what the police personnel do is what auxiliary cops don't do. That is what the latter need to learn on which, I believe, our auxiliary cops are capable of.
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