Random Thoughts

By November 14, 2016Opinion, Random Thoughts

IMPROVED TRAFFIC IN THE CITY – Perhaps, no other administrations in Dagupan has given more time, money and energy in fixing traffic than the present administration of Mayor Belen T. Fernandez.

In fact, many mayors before her also zealously tried to untangle the daily traffic mess which had been on, as far as I can remember, since the 80s but they hardly succeeded.

Many times, she is seen on the streets to have a closer look at traffic herself, not relying solely on the feedback given her by department heads.

One early evening, when she saw traffic hardly moving along Perez Boulevard and saw no POSO man around, she got out of her vehicle and did the unexpected–directed traffic to untangle the gridlock herself, unmindful of the risk to her life.

The installation of traffic lights in some strategic areas of the city is proof enough that Mayor Belen will do everything she can to give Dagupan a better traffic system whatever it costs.

The appointment of retired SPO4 Carlito Ocampo as chief of the Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) was also a step in the right direction as he is the right man to the right position given his vast experience as a former no-non-sense police officer of Dagupan.

A 30-day traffic experiment in the city put Ocampo’s mettle to the test and based on the feedback from the Sangguniang Panlungsod (SP) and the public, he easily passed this with flying colors

Ocampo’s only lament so far is he does not have enough personnel to man the traffic in all streets of Dagupan especially during rush hours even if his own City Action Service Team (CAST) that he previously headed is now integrated with POSO.

Now, POSO is working hard for the deputation of some Public Order and Safety Office (POSO) by the Land Transportation Office (LTO), so the POSO men can enforce national traffic laws that demand higher penalties for traffic violators, in addition to the city’s traffic laws that require lesser fines.

But the drawback is LTO has imposed certain requirements to any one deputized to enforce national traffic laws which is obviously quite impossible for any POSO man to meet.

These include: a regular appointment in the local government, a college graduate and holder of first grade civil service eligibility.

How many of Ocampo’s men can meet these requirements? So far, no one has been deputized by LTO.  – Leonardo Micua

 

CITY LIBRARY’S FREE INTERNET –  Many Dagupenos, students or professionals in Dagupan City seem unaware of the benefits of going to the City Library.

Located at the Alipio Fernandez Sr. Astrodome (Dagupan Astrodome) in Barangay Tapuac, the air-conditioned City Library remains a major repository of books, newspapers, magazines and other reading materials of various topics.

Today, it boasts of 15 computer desktops with Wi-Fi connections open to all, free of charge. However, use of the internet is restricted to research use but user may use email, of course, but please no Facebook or games.

I am a frequent visitor at the City Library which opens from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday to Saturday, and I observed that frequent library visitors are students of Dagupan City National High School during their lunch breaks, from 12:00-1:00 noontime. So if one needs silence, avoid that time.

After the students leave, there are only few of us who remain in the library.

I wonder why some students, especially in college, opt to pay extra for their internet use in private computer shops when they can conveniently have such service from the City Library! (Computer fees in private internet shops range from P20 to P30 per hour. Some charge higher, depending on the ambience).

I always see groups of students in computer shops doing their research/homework, especially on Saturdays, dividing the internet fee among themselves.  Perhaps they are unaware of the services offered by the City Library.

While some students, especially in private schools, already have their internet access provided in their cellphones, laptops, tablets and other electronic gadgets, the thousand others who go to public schools that are not properly equipped and only have limited books to read, should take advantage of the Dagupan City library.

Sayang naman yung City Library kasi sa luwang niya, aalog-alog ito dahil maraming hindi nakaka-alam na malaking tulong ito, lalo na sa mga estudyante. Come and visit it. You will discover many things. — Tita Roces

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