I frequently ride on a jeepney on my way home from the office. On one of these rides, I witnessed a mother, a fellow passenger, get into a heated exchange of words with two other passengers who were smoking cigarettes. The mother was with her child. She pleaded with the cigarette smokers, telling them that they were exposing to risk the health of her child. But the two rowdy guys rudely dismissed her plea, even sarcastically replying that it was their money, not hers, they used to buy the cigarettes. The confrontation got terribly annoying.
Wanting to calm down the situation, I pointed to the memorandum of the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on No Smoking, which was posted inside the jeepney, explaining to them that by virtue of Memorandum Circular No. 2009-036, it was prohibited to smoke inside public utility vehicles (PUVs). I was instead chided that I was “nagmamarunong.”
My better judgment took the better of me and though feeling furious but shaky, I disembarked in Cubao, even before reaching my destination lest the situation grew worse. I reflected on what happened inside the jeepney. I realized two things:
1. People nowadays have no respect for the rights of other people. They don’t take others’ feelings and wishes into consideration. They act nastily like brutes. What I saw inside the jeepney was barbaric and outrageous. Obviously, they didn’t respect the agencies and the government that issued the memorandum. And I dreaded that the child was distressed by the confrontation. Institutions like the church, state and the family should collaborate and instill the traditional values of respect, discipline, love, among others, in the hearts and minds of our people, especially the youth. Unless this malady of ill-mannered behavior is addressed, our society is not too far from becoming a jungle where anybody can do whatever he or she pleases.
2. What happened to the implementation of LTFRB Memorandum Circular No. 2009-036 which requires all the drivers, operators and owners of public land transportation vehicles and terminals to post the No Smoking sign inside their vehicles and terminals? Are these signs only meant for posting but not for implementation? Many drivers of jeepneys smoke while driving and their passengers follow suit. Occasionally, I see traffic enforcers smoking. The LTFRB, local governments and other concerned government agencies should look into this matter.
I hope that this will be an eye-opener for these institutions. Remember: “Respect for ourselves guides our morals, respect for others guides our manners.”
—REGINALD B. TAMAYO,
assistant city council secretary,
Marikina City, reginaldtamayo@yahoo.com