Street Suckers (Part 2)

The moment these diligent drivers arrive from Daraga then turn into Penaranda Street, their predicament starts. Whether or not passengers voluntarily board their vehicles is not the issue anymore. For every passenger, a driver should have to give his share to these leeches. Most of the time drivers choose to forego the loading and unloading zones located (on both the access points of the large store) literally controlled by these unscrupulous individuals. As a result, they risk losing precious clients in this highly competitive business of public transport.

The continued existence of this group of roadside bandits has long been brought to the attention of the authorities but still they continue to thrive. The earlier resolution was to field a couple of foot patrols but these roaming cops have to contend with hide-and-seek antics. The fiends were able to pattern the patrol’s routine and soon they were at it again. Later on it was agreed that an officer known for his tough stance against street punks was assigned to the area. He however became “too friendly” with the bullies so they became bolder. The notoriety of this enforcer doubled when word floated around that he had a cut from the loot. To makes things worse, he allegedly confiscated the licenses of uncooperative drivers. It was also alleged that this cop had the drivers secure the release of their licenses in his residence. The drivers had no choice but to comply if they needed to continue feeding their families. To date, no one has confirmed nor denied these allegations. The officer in question was later reprimanded and reassigned to another beat but was spotted again in the same area a week prior to this column’s receipt of the letter. It is widely known that cynics believe that there are no such things as coincidences.

Meanwhile, there is an organization of drivers and operators that is supposed to look out for their welfare but it seems that it has limited itself to strikes and protests against fuel hikes. Even the Traffic Division of the Legazpi Police appears to be useless with regards to the issue. Do the besieged drivers have to go higher for the problems to be acted upon?

There are two evident issues at hand: first, the loading and unloading zones behind LCC Mall are not terminals. It is for public function and should not be under the supervision of anyone else except the city government. Any group or person using the designated areas for any other reason should be made answerable to the city government. If for instance the areas are to be converted into satellite terminals, the move should undergo the regular process just like any other statute and that includes proper consultation with all those affected. That suggestion however is not feasible because it opens up all new serious concerns like traffic congestion and privatization. If these persons in question are acting as agents of the city government, they should at least be wearing identification cards to prove such.

Second, no driver should be made to pay a single peso to anyone when he loads passengers in these zones as he has already paid the required dues to the powers that be. Any collection beyond that in the name of traffic maintenance or anything else may be considered illegal. It could even be classified as pure extortion that could result to arrest if one is caught in the act. If a driver gives any amount voluntarily is beside the issue as that would encourage others to also prey on the public vehicles in other thoroughfares.

Finally, there is a very strong possibility that these street suckers are being coddled or at the very least, being permitted to practice their trade. If this is true, we do not need to do the math to surmise that the protectors are making a reaping out of the problem. No one will ever believe that those who are in-charge have clean hands unless they themselves get rid of these vicious vampires soon. The longer they delay, the bigger the suspicion.

STREET SUCKERS (Part 1)

For the first time, this blog received a letter this week. It came from a jeepney driver. Part of the letter was omitted for space and the most important part has been edited to suit the format of this site.

“Ako po ay isang tsuper na matagal nang namamasada dito sa Legazpi. Sa trabaho ko pong ito napa-tapos ang aking kaisa-isang anak na ngayon ay isa nang public school teacher. Mahal na mahal ko po ang aking trabaho at dahil po dito patuloy po akong kumakayod kahit wala na po akong pinapa-aral. Ang akin pong idinudulog ay hindi lang po para sa akin kundi para din pos a aking mga kapwa tsuper na tinitiis na lang ang problema.
Maaring alam na po ng karamihan na diyan po sa sentro ng lungsod, ay marami pong naglilipana na mga “barker” na humihingi po ng patong na limang piso sa tuwing may sumasakay na pasahero. Sa totoo lang po, kahit po wala sila ay may sasakay at sasakay lalo na kung ‘rush-hour.’ Ang nakakalungkot po ay kahit na hindi nila tinawag na pasahero basta sumakay at insigida limang piso kaagad ang hinihingi nila sa kawawang driver. Pag-hindi bumigay ang tsuper, ito ay kanilang binabantaan ng masama.
Dagdag pa nito ay iilan ang mga pwesto ng mga ito sa lungsod. Dalawa sa LCC, isa sa may monumento at dalawa sa may doughnut outlet kung saan okupado nila ang tig-isang kanto. Kung ang limang pwesto na ito ay hihingi ng tig-lilimang piso iyan ay malinaw na 25 pesos sa isang round. Kawawa naman ang mga driver!
Ipinaabot na namin ang problemang ito sa mga pulis at nangako naman sila na ito ay bibigyan nila ng aksyon subali’t nauulit parin ang mga pangyayaring ito lalo na kung walang nakabantay sa mga bandidong ito! Ano po an gaming gagawin? Hindi na po talaga namin kaya na patuloy na maging biktima ng mga sakim na barker at dispatcher!”

Last Sunday, this writer was able to confirm that there are indeed several self-proclaimed dispatchers at the mentioned areas. Before we go into the specified issues ventilated by the sender of the letter, please allow this column to dish out its manifestations on the matter.
Our first stop is Penaranda Street behind this popular mall downtown. Drivers have to stop to unload shoppers exactly at the rear entrance as it is the most accessible way into the said establishment. After unloading, these jeeps also pick up passengers who have just finished shopping. This action unfortunately costs the drivers five pesos. If one refuses to pay up, he receives, at the very least, a volley of threats and invectives from these vultures. Continuous refusal to give in may invoke worse actions. Most of the time, the driver is forced to shell out. Others, wanting to save up and avoid an altercation, do not stop at this site anymore.

First of all, this road is not a jeep terminal. The public utility vehicles (PUVs) are supposed to load and unload commuters only and not park and wait for customers to fill their jeeps. The reason most PUV’s do not leave until they are filled is mainly because of these street suckers who prey on the drivers who try very hard to honestly earn their keep. Traffic obstruction is of course another issue to contend with. (To be continued...)

(Photo courtesy of www.batch2006.com)

Stop PGMA's Con-Ass!

Final Failure

“We are at the critical point of human existence.” So goes the words of former US vice president Al Gore during his presentation, An Inconvenient Truth. That was three years ago. How far have we gone? Can we face ourselves in the mirror and honestly say “We did our best?” Has there been any improvement? I doubt it. This is one of those rare moments when this writer must get straight to the point.

We are not doing enough to uphold Republic Act 8749 otherwise known as the Philippine Clean Air Act of 1999. In Legazpi City alone, there are still quite a number of motor vehicles belching out black smoke like there was no tomorrow. Any pedestrian would attest to the fact that there are still jeepneys and tricycles that have been granted franchises but are still perennial smoke-belchers. This cursed condition is not only limited to public transport but also to some private cars and delivery trucks. The problem persists despite the existence of anti smoke-belching stations and the pronounced firmness of the mandated agencies. Sadly, there are ailments from these offices that need to be cured.

In addition, the local governance seemed intent at first to fully implement an ordinance banning smoking in public conveyances. But even that is slowly dwindling. Some drivers and passengers still continue to violate this statute unimpeded. This writer is a witness to countless infringements of drivers and passengers alike. In one instance, a driver (Loop 1) immediately lit a cigarette while in transit the moment he reached Brgy. Bogtong, a spot which is still well within the city limits. There is an old saying, “When the cat is away, the mouse will play.” To field more enforcers may be a good reposition but not the final solution.

There are still other desecrations against the natural world and they do not need to be pointed out to make a statement. These two above-mentioned examples alone are basis enough to conclude that we still do not comprehend the crucial phase our environment is undergoing now. We still do not have the faintest idea of how dangerously close the human race is to extinction. The point of no return in which Gore so eloquently described in the film may be this moment. It is the condition wherein the damage to the environment is already irreversible. The polar ice caps will continue to melt at a faster rate. The sea levels will rise and the coral reefs would now be totally unsupportive of marine life. Natural calamities would keep on increasing in strength and frequency. New life threatening viruses and diseases would persist and repetitively plague the globe. And that will be just the beginning. What comes after that is too horrifying to picture.

If that is the case, then, we miserably failed. We failed not only ourselves but the entire existence of every living thing on the face of the earth. And that is the final failure mankind will ever commit. (Photo courtesy of www.sciencecastle.com)