Tricycles, motorcycle riders on the highway

By Ermin Garcia Jr.

 

IT’S heartening to see that some police stations in the province have started an information campaign about traffic rules in the highway, particularly on the memorandum circular of DILG Sec. Eduardo Año on the use of highways by tricycles, motorcycles, kuliglig, etc.

I saw mini sign boards posted on highway intersections in Calasiao, Villasis, Sta. Barbara and Malasiqui directing tricycle drivers, motorcycle riders, etc. to stay on the shoulders or outer lanes of highways.

But something is amiss. I’m afraid these signboards will be another set of signs on traffic info meant to be ignored. Why? The rule is not being enforced anywhere, and there is no indication that the police is serious about enforcement.

I drive through the highways regularly and both motorcycle riders and tricycle drivers are ignoring the signs. They only move to the shoulders after blowing the horn on them without letup until they move to the outer lanes. Without it, motorists continue to be at the mercy of the tricycle and motorcycle drivers who ride leisurely and think nothing of the risks to them and the bus, car drivers.

But there is hope with this beginning from the police stations. Enforcement is the problem. Since police stations are mostly undermanned, our police chiefs should seriously consider tasking barangay tanods (through their kapitan) to take charge in the info campaign on the highways – to flag down tricycles and motorcycle riders to remind them of the traffic rule and the penalty provided.

The police station can consider holding a half-a-day briefing for barangay kaps and tanods, whose jurisdiction covers the highways, on the rule, and how to manage the situation. It’d help them, too, if one police officer is designated to oversee the enforcement and coordination with the barangays.

I hope that one day motorists in the province can brag to their friends and colleagues that Pangasinan is the only province where tricycle drivers and motorcycle riders are disciplined, because we have police stations and kapitans that dutifully enforce that law!

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WORKING TOGETHER IS IMPERATIVE. I seriously wonder if the Dagupan City government is working closely with the provincial government in the war vs. COVID-19! Perhaps it is not because of the legal boundaries and jurisdictions between the two. While Dagupan is technically not under the jurisdiction of the provincial government, being an independent component city, what affects the city affects the province. And vice versa.

 The pandemic is one critical issue for both.  An unusual surge in COVID-19 cases in either city or the province will be of serious concern to the other. Today, Dagupan is the epicenter, meaning residents from other towns who come to the city are at risk, and become potential carriers when they return to their hometowns.

 In the same vein, towns that have active cases threaten the situation in the city.

 We have reached that point when political boundaries have to be sidestepped to fully address the pandemic in Pangasinan.

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FACE TO FACE SUMMIT.  Definitely, a surge or second wave is happening in our midst.

It is no longer simply enough for the provincial IATF to convene to discuss and assess the situation. It already behooves on focal points of COVID-19 control or heads of municipal and city health offices to meet and present their own assessments, with Dagupan City in the middle.

Every town/city has an experience in this campaign so there’s much to share on how one fared in the adoption of a particular measure or initiative.  We can’t afford having each town/city continue with hit-and-miss strategies.

Efforts must already be coordinated with lessons from the ground, This is the reason why I believe a summit among heads of LGUs health offices must meet face-to-face, in their PPEs, face masks and shields.

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RACKETEERING IN SCHOOLS? I am in receipt of a disturbing report on one development in schools in Pangasinan concerning the initial stages of the distance learning method being employed today.

 Some private schools are reportedly selling modules produced by DepEd!! And I received a confirmation form DepEd Usec Alain Pascua that no school is authorized to sell the modules! Still some schools require their students to print out the modules in full color. How many families can afford to do all these print outs??

 Parents whose kids are required to pay for the modules should not delay to report the situation to DepEd.

 Meanwhile, it might be helpful for Parent-Teachers Associations per class to meet and form cooperatives for distance learning. As a group, they will be in a better to negotiate better rates for any reproduction needed…or hiring of tutors that can organize tutorial groups of five help parents follow up on the development of their children if needed.

 Distance learning because of the pandemic will engage and involve parents in the education of their children more than at anytime in the past. 

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STRICT CONTROL AT THE BORDERS. The recommendation of PNP provincial director P/Col Rederico Maranan to flag down all APOR (Authorized Persons Outside Residence) issued delivery vans and trucks entering our borders should be required to present updated health certificates of delivery crew.

But beyond that, local governments should help by conducting on site testing randomly to preclude attempts at faking health certificates.

The only policy that must be observed by border control checkpoints, is no vehicle with legitimate cargo should be held at the checkpoint simply because one crew member failed to submit a certificate. The person without proper documentation should be retained, but not the food and medical cargo.

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