Wrong problem = wrong solutions

In order to excel in the art of problem solving, it is crucial that we know what the real problem is in order to arrive at what the real solutions are.

This is often the mistake of many people or leaders in government, they come up with solutions that don’t address the real problem or simply believe that it is not in their “jurisdiction”, so they act by coming up with temporary solutions.

Early this week a very unfortunate fellow named Dr. Francisco Sarabia was killed in a vehicular accident that many described as two buses from the same company “racing” along EDSA. In response DOTC Asst. Secretary Thompson Lantion immediately suspended the operations of the bus company and required that all their drivers undergo retraining from accredited organizations in the fore -front of automotive safety.

At a glance it would seem that Asec. Lantion’s actions were very swift and impressive (which they were), but did Asec. Lantion really address the core problem that is the cause of “pilots on flying buses”? No he did not. He tried his best but in this case, they would call it outside their “jurisdiction”.

To begin with, the retraining may instill additional knowledge and maybe even some skills to those fortunate enough to be retrained. But the problem is about economics and not about driving mechanics. EDSA Bus drivers are a very competent lot but they are not concerned about that. They drive to make money.

The real problem behind the bus drivers’ need for speed is the fact that they all operate under the commission system. Bus drivers are no longer paid a minimum or fixed salary and they get their earnings from a commission. So the more passengers they pick up, the more money they earn.

In order to do so, they must get to every stop at the fastest possible time. Not only is it a matter of speed, they have also developed the ability to “box out” other divers from getting into the lane or if possible, from moving to the next stop ahead of them.

Remember, getting to one stop may get you passengers but once the next driver squeezes through, he is now in front and loading up all the passengers in the succeeding bus stops. This is the reason why in spite of all the engineering designs made by the MMDA, buses still pile up at Ortigas, Guadalupe, Ayala and Pasong Tamo. Someone has simply boxed out the rest!

To further complicate the problem of driving on commission, the volume of buses on the EDSA has far exceeded what the riding population can sustain. There are too many buses but not enough riders.

So now we have two real problems that Asec. Thompson Lantion has to face and solve with true political will.

I would quickly qualify that the issue of “just compensation” is a matter for the Department of Labor and whoever the current Secretary of that department is. Quite honestly I lost all interest for that department and its handicapped leadership ever since they stopped acting on cases of contractual employees.  

Far from fulfilling their work, the DOLE leadership has long compromised their integrity and professionalism by allowing many companies and employers to get away with contractualization and employment by commission. The DOLE has sold the rights of Filipino workers and employees in exchange for “statistical employment”; greater numbers of employment but with hardly any benefits or rights!

But even if the DOLE has become a ghost of its former glory, Asec. Lantion can stand firmly on the law or the labor code. At the very least his office can be sticklers for compliance and initiate mandatory and regular investigation of bus companies and their employment practices. Non-payment of regular salaries, SSS, health benefits and insurance coverage would then be grounds for automatic suspension of operations.

If Asec. Lantion were really on the job, he would enforce a special insurance coverage for bus drivers so they don’t go running off or running over to kill their victim because it would be cheaper than to pay for damages and hospitalization. Drivers must be covered, period.

So for problem one, the solution would be: all drivers must be paid a regular salary and must have special insurance coverage.

The second solution some people say would be harder because the government needs all the money they can raise. That’s fine. All we have to do is reduce the number of operators, increase the cost of the franchise, we have less buses on EDSA, less fuel consumption, less pollution, less law enforcement needs, better profits for the operators and we can eventually require upgrades for the type of buses on EDSA.

If only the President spent more time talking to real people who know the real problems, she might come up with better solutions. Just because the DOLE does not do its job, two bus drivers race to earn a living, a doctor dies in an accident that drags the LTFRB into the scene, because buses were involved, the LTO had to go on night shift to arrest homicidal drivers and violators on the EDSA instead of checking them during actual registration.

Now a man is dead, his family orphaned. Another man will go to jail and his family will go deeper into poverty. A bus company owner will suffer a few thousand peso losses but will soon be “on the road again”. Meanwhile, the Secretary of Labor is clueless of the fact that his office could have prevented the matter, the LTFRB will commend itself for doing their job and the LTO will move on to the next operation. By the way, no one even asked who polices our streets after midnight?

I really hope the Sarabia clan can pool their resources together, get the best and toughest lawyers in the land and sue the hell out of every government official they can implicate in this case. At the very least Francisco Sarabia’s death would have meaning, his family would be compensated and those in government will be made responsible. Because in the end what caused Francisco’s death was people not doing what they should have done.