Pea-brained idea
The sheer stupidity that prevails in the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) never ceases to amaze us. From tinkering with plastic or solid-rock barriers along Edsa only to discover traffic got infernally worse to seeking “emergency powers” to make bus and jeepney drivers obey traffic rules, now comes another pea-brained idea: requiring violators to seek National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) clearance for them to be able to drive again.
MMDA acting general manager Tim Orbos was reported to have said: “We need to implement this to instill discipline…” (MMDA, NBI making it tougher for parking violators,” Metro, 1/26/17). He believes the torture one has to go through for an NBI clearance these days might be enough deterrent against the stubbornness of vehicle owners. And the NBI is going along with that stupidity by agreeing—never mind the indirect insult to its honor and integrity Orbos is implying.
Be that as it may, the MMDA should start with bus and jeepney drivers who convert any part of any Metro Manila road into their terminal or parking facility at will whenever convenient to them, knowing that MMDA traffic enforcers have become totally blind to such spectacles—blinded by “bundles of payola” they are believed to be still receiving regularly to this day.
Why are we zeroing in only on the bus and jeepney drivers?
Firstly, it is the bus drivers who clog up traffic on Edsa by stopping side by side each other and blocking all motorists behind them to load or unload passengers. They are making convenient terminals out of any part of Edsa.
Secondly, jeepney drivers are doing the same things on practically all Metro Manila roads outside of Edsa. Does anyone ever see private motorists do any of those crazy, “pasaway” things?
The illegal parking by private motorists is at least done on the far sides of the road. Jeepney drivers park anywhere and anytime they see passengers lining up for rides. Both are, of course, illegal; but as sure as the sun sets in the west, MMDA will be apprehending only the private motorists who can be threatened with that NBI “torture” unless they come across right then and there—again, and this time around at much more cost.
NIMFA RINA RICAFORT, [email protected]
