Predators

Last week’s column about the predatory practices of taxi drivers outside the pier resulted to several calls and comments from others, who have experienced the same treatment.

One of the readers called us up and said that even the guests to their hotel, who are Chinese tourists, are also being victimized by the taxi drivers, who charge them P300 to take them to the downtown area.

She said that something has to be done about this illegal practice of the taxi drivers, who destroy the good name of the others, who are making a decent living driving cabs.

The Cebu Ports Authority, the Land Transportation Office, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, the Department of Tourism, the Philippine National Police and the local government unit have to work together to rid the pier area of such predators.

This is not something new, which one reader told us, but she said that it is a good thing that somebody is writing about it so that something will be done.

We could not guarantee her that something would really be done considering the pace that our authorities take action and their usual lack of interest on matters unless a major incident happens.

But we are not stopping because ours is just a small voice. We will keep on writing about this and keep on asking our officials to do something.

Another reader said that a parking facility exists near the pier area, but you need to walk far to reach the place and you could be victimized by the many petty criminals that lurk in the area.

Another reader asked how come nobody seems to care about this malpractice of the taxi drivers. He proposed that a team from the LTO be on stand-by in the area so these officials can see for themselves what is happening.

He said that the agents must not be in uniform so that the unscrupulous drivers would really be caught red handed.

While we understand that the drivers are just trying to earn extra, such practice will not be good for their industry and Cebu in general. Time will come when tourists would avoid Cebu because of the many predators outside the port area.

The first to suffer from such would be the same people, who are now trying to destroy Cebu’s name.

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With the construction of the flyover in Mambaling now underway, we hope that the CITOM is really doing something to clear F. Llamas and Sabellano Sts.

It doesn’t take a genius to see the problem in these areas and we hope that those from the traffic authority would do something to rid such streets of illegal structures and abusive drivers, who refuse to heed traffic laws.

Maybe the city government can also rid CITOM of personnel, who are not doing their jobs with mayor-elect Michael Rama soon to be at the helm of City Hall. Such change will really be welcomed even by those who doubt the incoming mayor’s ability to make big decisions.

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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].