The pros and cons of the "wang wang" issue

My good friend, Dr. Mark Lauron and his wife, Liza and children was in Cebu for the week for the class reunion in the Cebu Institute of Medicine (CIM). We had lunch at the Chika-an Restaurant in Salinas last Sunday to reminisce about the good old days. Dr. Lauron now practices medicine in Victorville, California. But before his whole family left for the US, he had to stay to finish medical school. He lived on the second floor of the original Chika-an Restaurant with my wife's cousin, Dr. Jonathan Reboton. So it was a reunion of old friends.

Dr. Lauron and I share the same passion of collecting World War II stories or artifacts. We can talk for hours on this subject. Last Sunday he presented to me a rare gift, something of great value to an old history buff like me (although to other people, it's just plain old documents) where he gave me the original "Top Secret" orders to commence the Victor Two Attack group, the code name for the invasion of Talisay. He apparently got hold of these documents as it was sold through eBay. After getting those original documents, he found out that the old US Navy officer who had these documents in his possession lived only five miles from his residence.

These invasion plans are two-inches thick and include reconnaissance photos, maps, depth soundings, intelligence reports, medical evacuation plans and the entire plan on where each vessel would be stationed. I shall be writing more on this story prior to the Talisay Landing in March next year. I'm grateful that there are still Cebuanos now living in the US who would secure those now declassified documents, which is part and parcel of our history. Thanks to Dr. Lauron for this treasure trove.

* * *

It seems that the pros and the cons of the issue of sirens or "wang-wang" that was brought into national consciousness by no less than Pres. Benigno "Noynoy" Aquino III is still being debated by many pundits two weeks after the President had this implemented. There are always two sides to an argument. In this case, those who say that the President is wasting his time stuck in traffic and therefore should be exempted from this are correct. The President's time is more important than your time or my time. We can get stuck in traffic and the nation won't be affected by it. But when the President is late for his appointments because he is stuck in traffic, he is wasting the taxpayers' time.

 On the other side of the coin, pundits argue that the President is showing to our countrymen that he is willing to forgo certain perks or comforts to show to our people that no one is exempted from the law, including the laws governing traffic. Now this is a very commendable act. Both arguments are right, especially in this country where traffic rules are violated with impunity by jeepney, taxi or bus drivers or worse by those who wield the powers of government who more often than not are the biggest violators of our laws.

But somehow a compromise must be done. In Cebu City when the Sydney Coordinated Automatic Traffic System (SCATS) was in perfect working order, former CITOM Chairman, the late Rogelio "Jing-Jing" Osmeña showed me that with his two-way radio, he can call the Traffic Control so he would always get a go-signal or a green light when he is in the intersection. When I was CITOM Chair, we visited the Traffic Control room of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA). Their capability was even better than what we have.

So it is easy enough for the Presidential Security Group (PSG) to station an operative at the traffic control room in MMDA to give the President a green light as he approaches a signalized intersection. This way, he won't be violating any laws and can still show a good example to the Filipino people that no one is exempted from the law. But already, critics are asking whether the President is also following the odd/even numbering scheme; because that would mean that he cannot use his vehicle with the number one plate number everyday. This is why I would insist that the President be exempted from this.

This should be taken by everyone as a call to action. We Filipinos have been asking for change. Now you are seeing this change in the Aquino administration starting from the top, which is a rarity in our country's governance. Hence, it is our duty to also show that we too can change and obey traffic rules and regulations. This issue should also be a call to action by the various enforcement agencies of the government, that they should heighten their alertness and be more vigilant against those motorists who violate our traffic laws due to their having gotten away with it for too long. If Pres. Noynoy is not exempt from traffic rules, then I dare say that no one else should be exempted!