Revisiting Frankenstein

Without a doubt almost all experts in government service and politics I’ve talked to share the sentiment that the Local Government Code has to be revisited and REVISED.

Just like the national government, many local government units have prioritized making money, raising money, or legislating income generation. Too much emphasis has been given to autonomy or becoming a city which results in higher taxes in places where income levels and services have not been commensurate or justifies the desire of becoming a “city”.

In smaller towns or distant areas the “gift” of local autonomy or devolution has become more of a curse in the hands of ill informed or incompetent local officials. Health services have all but disappeared, the quality of education has suffered while too much concrete is mixed and poured in the desire for kickbacks or profits.

Instead of focusing on attracting investors who create jobs and develop industries or business centers, LGUs are obsessed on raising real estate taxes and increasing service fees without improvements on services. Major cities boast of being home to upscale hospitals but don’t have sufficient and decent medical facilities for low income residents.

A few have some of the most expensive cemeteries for the rich but no housing for the poor and homeless. Emphasis is given to beautification and “construction” projects that don’t stimulate the economy or quality of living.

I passed by Roxas Boulevard the other day and the seats intended for tourists and those wanting to see the famous Manila Bay sunset were mostly occupied by poor homeless people or drifters whose brains were long fried by sniffing glue.  A group of Korean tourists were told that the “Calesa” ride was only P40 for each passenger but ended up as P4,000 for 5. The 20-year old scam still works!

Many people have paid little attention to how LGUs “privatize” traffic enforcement in their areas allegedly because the city can’t afford to invest on manpower and equipment.  Of course little is reported on the billions of pesos earned by “privatized” traffic enforcers, parking fees, and towing companies in contrast to the measly sum that goes to each city concerned.

Time and again, local officials push pencils and grab figures from thin air without concrete basis for raising taxes, fees, or fines.  There is no offer or commitment for services or projects that would improve the civil service. Ironically there are not enough control mechanisms and external audits of expenditures of local governments.

What is worse is the “untouchable state of mind that local officials currently possess drives them into making their own laws as if they were monarchs with a kingdom of their own.

Striking against the causes of the strike

The most recent transport strike to hit Metro Manila was long over due.

Transport operators like other motorists have long complained about the chaotic traffic laws independently imposed by different cities especially within but not exclusive to Metro Manila.

Almost all motorist in Metro Manila has experienced being arrested in one city because they don’t follow the way of the Metro Manila Development Authority system, the most notorious being the independent republics and of Makati, Pasay and Mandaluyong City.

Nightmares range from exorbitant parking fees, unreasonable fines, confusing traffic flows and the almost intentional absence of appropriate signs that lead to arrests. We still have to figure out what kind of intelligence would allow and collect fees for business establishments but does not allow short term parking in front of these stores but allow illegal bus & jeepney terminals!

Aside from publicizing the problems of the transport industry, the recent strike serves as a vantage point where we can analyze several reasons why our transportation system is a complete mess.

As far as the ticketing system goes, MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando originally proposed the idea but was blocked by Transport operators who are ALWAYS opposed to any form of organization and discipline. The issue was brought to court.

 Again we have a problem which I wish would be given more attention by Chief Justice Puno. The courts are too eager or quick to entertain cases filed to delay valid undertakings. In cases of national importance, the courts unfortunately take up too much time or allow lawyers to “schedule hearings until eternity” while no one thinks of the lost income and benefits for the public.

Now the transport operators are crying for the single ticketing system. They have experienced doing business with several LGUs and discovered that they charge higher for fines and demand that you pay up right away or they slap you with another fine for not paying your fine fast enough!

The nightmare also exposes the result of what happens when the LTFRB and the LTO operate primarily as collection agencies or profit centers. More emphasis is given to processing more applications to raise revenues rather than processing, filtering and professionalizing the industry.

Because the DOTC has abdicated on the “enforcement side” it is no surprise that more and more colorum buses, smoke belchers, and killer drivers are on the road. Because the DOTC goes after the powerless drivers instead of the money making operators, drivers don’t have fixed salaries which force them to drive on 24-hour shifts, which makes some of them use drugs, which turns some of them into killers in accidents, and then the operator tells them “just disappear”. To date no operator has been thrown into prison as a party to a homicide through reckless imprudence!

The case of unsupervised contractualization of drivers also exposes the abdication of the Department of Labor and the SSS to follow its mandate in this critical area of employment. Giving too much leeway to contractualization of labor that is critical and dangerous is certainly a sin against the general public and safety.

DOTC dagdag-bawas

The MMDA “micro chip” scanning system to monitor the flow of buses on EDSA will soon be implemented and hopefully take out the colorum buses. But guess what? When the MMDA asked for the listing of buses the first list given by DOTC was 2000 units. When someone at the DOTC learned about the Chip scanning system, an updated list added 1,500 more units. Is this the DOTC version of Dagdag Bawas?