Oh No It's Friday

We used to say, "Thank God It's Friday," but in Cebu, Fridays are now dreaded because going from one place to another would make us feel like we are in Metro Manila due to the traffic congestion.

Around our office in the downtown area, traffic during Fridays is bad due to the people going to the Basilica del Santo Niño as the reverent go to the church on that special day.

Now, there seems to be traffic congestion anywhere in Cebu on Fridays and the situation is going to worsen with the Christmas season coming.

It is about time that the CITOM as well as all other traffic bodies of the various local government units in Metro Cebu get their acts together and plan out ways to address the congestion.

The plan to set up a super body for traffic has long been there, but then nothing has gone forward.

We can't wait for a few more years before the Metro Cebu Traffic Authority will be created. If this can be done now, then definitely the future problems can be addressed no matter, who are the mayors of the different cities and towns.

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Smoke belchers don't only make it harder for us to breathe, but these vehicles also make it harder for us to see.

What is very disappointing is when you see vehicles that have recently been registered based on the plate number of the registration sticker that are already belching smoke.

The emission test is one requirement before you can renew the registration of your vehicle, so how come these vehicles were registered? 

Here's something from our reader Jesson Morata on smoke belchers:

I would like to call the attention of the CITOM especially the section that deals with smoke-belching vehicles. I noticed that there are several smoke-belching public utility jeepneys plying the Talamban to downtown route (13C, 13B etc.). I still marvel, how in the world are these public utility jeepneys are still able to renew their registrations and certificates of public convenience, despite the strict regulations set by agencies like the LTFRB and LTO in as far as compliance to certain provisions of the Clean Air Act. We do not want Cebu to have a poor air quality, so we better act now, before it's too late.

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