Playing with Fire
MM has a better traffic system than Jakarta
By Gonzalo Duque
WE have been complaining too much about traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
All the pagmumura and bad words directed against Metro Manila’s traffic enforcers and the government especially during traffic jams are very common.
Parang wala nang solusyon ang problemang trapiko sa Metro Manila.
Sa totoo lang, traffic problems are also being denounced in some local urban centers such as Urdaneta City.
Mind you, the traffic problem in Manila is nothing compared to the monstrosity of the thing bedlam in Jakarta, Indonesia that we just visited a couple of days back.
Know what? Had it not been for our police escort, it would have taken us more than 2 hours to reach our hotel from the airport.
Luckily, we, in the company of Sec. Bebot Villar, were assigned an official escort, so we were not stranded in Jakarta’s super busy street.
And so, in spite of our traffic woes, we would rather be in Manila than in Jakarta.
By the way, Jakarta has no LRT or MRT facilities yet, but we heard that similar projects are now being constructed underground.
* * * *
We had a great chance to visit the Lido Drug Rehab Center in Jakarta. This time, mukhang tayo ang maiinggit sa kanila.
We learned that the government is very sincere and supportive in the upkeep and modernization of their rehab center. Their drug dependents are well taken care of before, during and after the rehabilitation process.
Sec. Bebot and this columnist describe their facility and management impressive.
Although we have no expert research and study of rehab centers, we can say without fear contradiction that Indonesia’s drug rehab program is one of the best in the world.
Their rehab “curriculum” also consist of psychological tests, skills training and comprehensive or total care designed to reintegrate the patient or drug dependent to normal society.
We cannot thank Sec. Villar enough for the great chance to observe this modern facility in Jakarta. Our take on that visit was so that we can learn a thing or two which we can share in our local drug rehab management in Brgy. Bonuan Binloc under the Region 1 Medical Center.
* * * *
It seems there’s a need for the R1MC and the office of the mayor to harmonize their concerns and strategy in pursuing drug rehabilitation.
It is of record that Sec. Villar, Dangerous Drugs Board chairman, has caused the release of P10-million for the Regional Rehab Center, an extension of R1MC.
This fund was earmarked for Dagupan City’s program for its anti drugs drive. Sec. Villar was so impressed with the city government’s illegal drugs campaign under Mayor Belen Fernandez and Police Supt. Chris Abrahano that he, Manong Bebot is again predisposed to allocate an additional P5-million for the establishment for a drug testing center in Dagupan.
We understand that our Manong doesn’t feel like appropriating the fund without the proper liquidation. He is extending the liquidation requirement up to March 2015.
* * * *
Our man in Davao told us that Mayor Rody Duterte is on the frontline fighting for federalism in our country.
It was for this reason that a large assembly was held in Davao last week.
If you study the problems of our country, you will agree that there’s over concentration of political power in Metro Manila. We really need to democratize political authority to the local governments.
In this way progress and development will perk up and ensure that the voice of the people will be heard.
To achieve what Mayor Duterte is trying to pursue, this columnist believes that a re-writing of the constitution is in order.
We should have a national constitutional convention to pave the way for this noble objective.
Share your Comments or Reactions
Powered by Facebook Comments
