Use the money for drainage instead

Many are on their last few days of Christmas preparations and the traffic around Cebu City and nearby areas like Mandaue and Talisay is getting to be unbearable.

It is a good thing that we do see traffic law enforcers (take note of the word law in between traffic and enforcers) even when it is raining to help direct the flow of vehicles.

The situation at the South Road Properties has also somehow eased, but then in some areas, there would always be a gridlock for many hours of the day.

General Maxilom Ave. is an area of special concern as traffic flow crawls the whole day.

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The floods in Cagayan de Oro and Iligan as well as in Dumaguete should already open the eyes of our officials on the need to spend government money wisely and not on projects that don't really solve problems.

If former Congressman Raul del Mar and his daughter, Rep. Cutie del Mar were able to find P600 million to fund two vehicle overpasses, then we believe they can also find ways to source funds for drainage and other flood mitigation projects.

Maybe it is still possible to use the P600 million for drainage instead of the overpasses.

The people might not see huge structures to remind them of the politicians come election time, but feeling safe at home and knowing that the people's money has been well-spent would probably encourage the ordinary Cebuano to vote for them.

Let's keep on praying that our leaders get enlightened.

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Jesson Morata, a regular correspondent sent us email last week. Due to space limitations, we'd like to print the portion that is most important for our authorities to act on.

Here it is:

I noticed that some traffic lights especially in Cebu City are busted and are not working. One of this is the traffic lights in the busy intersection of Juan Luna Extension and Sergio Osmeña Blvd., near the Cebu International Port. Traffic is snarled especially during rush hours in the afternoon and when no traffic personnel is manning the area. Motorists would have to contend to "paugat" to get through the intersection.

We have brought this matter up many months ago. We wonder how long it takes for government to take action.

Government did show some efficiency in some recent actions involving some big personalities. We wonder why it can't act on small things like the busted traffic lights.

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Another reader commented that the poor condition of the vehicle overpass in Mandaue is one reason why traffic slows down in that area.

The reader noted the sad state of the overpass that would require drivers to really slow down in the places where there are joints due to the potholes.

How many years do we have to wait for something to be done here?

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