Curbing “freedoms” in the streets

By Ermin F. Garcia Jr.

There are two news items in this issue that bear watching, particularly, on how our local government units will respond.

The first is the series of road accidents that proved fatal to bystanders, pedestrians and motorists. While no statistics are available as to how many lives have already been lost so far to the uncanny habit of residents living by major highways to sit by the edge of the cemented or asphalted road to play ball, to drink or to gather for plain tsimis unmindful of the real danger to their lives and limbs.

This “gathering” of neighbors is usually noted in early mornings or late afternoons. It’s a common sight to see men sitting or standing cuddling their roosters, smoking the hours away, right on the very edge of the cemented portion of the road while the womenfolk are either cradling infants in their arms or watching toddlers play around them, talking mindlessly while cars and trucks speed by. The male teeners converge as well in their mixed basketball shorts and shirts, clowning and jousting, like nobody would dare hit them at anytime.

While most everyone refuses to believe they can actually be run over, many have witnessed such accidents in their neighborhood. And yet, wonder of all wonders, not a single barangay, municipal or city council has prohibited the congregation of neighbors beside or on the highway.

Its enforcement would not even be difficult because there are barangay tanods who can help enforce the regulation. (Of course, there will always be the risk of seeing some barangay tanods who invoke their exemption from the rule being enforcers resulting in their being the primary road hazards and eventually victims).  The adoption of such a rule banning the presence of any resident or a congregation or assembly within 3 meters from the highway will go a long way towards saving their lives in the barangays!

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CURBING THE “FREEDOM OF SPIT”.   If you are about to partake of a meal, I suggest you postpone reading this item because it can be offensive (and hazardous!) to your senses. Don’t say I didn’t warn you. 

The other curious item is the suggestion of Dagupan City Councilor Jess Canto to ban “spitting in public”. It’s a good idea but am afraid it will be another useless law that will and can never be enforced.

Who will enforce it? The police and the traffic aides will concededly be the foremost “covert” violators. 

A similar law is being enforced strictly in Hong  Kong  and  in Singapore and its successful  enforcement can be attributed to the rule that states any citizen can report a violation, and the violator who resists providing the information about himself, i.e., name and address, etc., will be jailed and fined summarily. About 20 years ago, the fine was P1, 000 (peso conversion). The person who reports the violation earns a decent commission.

If the enforcement of the anti- jaywalking ordinance is any indication, an anti-spitting ordinance will just be a waste of spit (pardon the pun). But the idea deserves a second look in another context.

In the context of Pinoy culture, the city council should consider a resolution instead directing the city’s public and private schools in both primary and high school levels to adopt a research-based education program to be adopted as a part of all the school curriculum on the subject: Good Values and Good Conduct for Better Health.

Such a subject can include measures to prevent dengue, eye irritation, bad breath, hair and head infection, genital infection, etc.

But more than just mandating that a regular educational campaign be conducted, the city government must put its money where its mouth is. It must appropriate money for the development of materials that the students can use or even bring home to their parents to learn from.

All good ideas end when no one dares to invest on them.

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THE OTHER “FREEDOMS”. The sad thing about those who uphold the “freedom of spit”, the habitual “spitter” genuinely believes that it’s healthy to spew out excess saliva (or phlegm) on any free space instead of being made to swallow it, or that spewing out the unwanted liquid in one’s handkerchief pocket is even more unsanitary, etc.  (Forget about asking them to use a tissue paper to dispose of these. Why spend for something useless, they point out). These oft heard arguments simply point to the gross ignorance of the public, and therefore, need to be educated.

Incidentally, will Councilor Canto include the gross practice of some who indiscriminately blow their noses and mindlessly walk on, leaving their excreted mucous on the street or plants? They call it freedom of “singa”.

 What about the embarrassing habit of many men who feel that they are providing free fertilizer by peeing on plants and trees, or free cleaning element by hosing tires and walls? This is their freedom of “CR”.

Just wondering because these are among the more common “freedoms” enjoyed in the streets today that I know are no less important than the “freedom of spit” that the councilor is considering.

Ok, enough of “street freedoms”.  My apologies for discussing the subject that obviously nobody wants to talk about in public but which seriously threaten everyone’s health on a daily basis.

It’s about public interest.

(Readers may reach columnist at punch.sunday@gmail.com. For past columns, click http://sundaypunch.prepys.com/archives/category/opinion/punchline/
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