Stop the beggars

It seems that many motorists are now asking that the government do something about the children, who are on the streets to beg this Christmas season.

The most common reason is safety. 

One motorist said that the complaints of many people about scratches on the paintwork of their vehicle are very true. He claimed to have been a victim not only once, but thrice.

“Diha sa corner sa bag-ong dan (Imus) ug Mango (Gen. Maxilom) kaduha na ko then didto pod sa may Mabolo,” he told us.

“Ngano di man gyud na sila mahipos nga kung maigo na sila sa drayber, ang mga drayber man ang magproblema. Asa na man nang mga opisyal sa siyudad nga sige pahambog nga epektibo sila?”

Another reader once again called for the authorities to put a stop to those people, who board jeepneys in groups of three to sing carols and ask for money using a little intimidation so that the passengers would cough up money.

She is worried that the next time the fears that these people are actually robbers in disguise might become true.

One of our readers, Thomas Moore, who we have been exchanging emails with recently, has in fact sent a letter addressed to the Department of Social Welfare and Development asking them to do something about street begging.

Maybe our good friend Jaybee Binghay-Carillo of DSWD-7 can give us an update on what action they are taking.

Again, we call on fellow motorists not to give money to these beggars because by doing so we only encourage them to ply the trade.

The authorities of course must take immediate action. Show us your political will if you want the people to vote for you in the May 2010 elections.

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Here’s a letter from Jesson Morata, which tells much also about how we feel about drivers of government vehicles that violate the traffic laws:

While I was on my way to work last November 24, 2009, at around 9 in the morning, I was so furious upon seeing a traffic violation committed by some government personnel who are supposed to at the front lines abiding by basic traffic rules. It was a sheer disregard of traffic lights at the intersection of Sikatuna St. and Imus Ave. Two city owned buses coming from Imus Avenue ( that didn’t even have registration plates) just ignored the stop light at the intersection near the Day-as Barangay Hall.

What made things worse was the two buses’ failure to yield to the stop sign. A jeepney from Sikatuna St. (which was at the correct situation since it was “go”) almost got hit by the two buses. Now, if an accident would have had occurred at that time, we know obviously who to blame. It’s so dismal to think that government vehicle drivers don’t heed to simple traffic rules. City owned Buses are not ambulances or fire trucks that could just ignore traffic light because of the urgency to respond to an emergency. I hope that the city government, who ever is in charge of these city owned buses would have to educate, if not reprimand their erring drivers to at least observe simple traffic rules. 

Thanks for the email Jesson.

There was one city hall multicab that also madfe a U-Turn near corner A. Soriano and Juan Luna Ave. yesterday at noontime despite the solid yellow line there.

There was also a patrol vehicle of barangay Suba, which was using its blinkers while traveling in Minglanilla several days ago. You people ought to be ashamed of yourselves because you blatantly violate the laws.

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For your comments, complaints and suggestions please feel free to contact us at 2531276 or 2538613 local 237.

You can also send email to [email protected].