Tech & serve

I have keenly monitored anything that Secretary Ping de Jesus has to say about how they plan to deal with colorum buses. From the looks of it, the DOTC’s problem stems from how to actually monitor and control and quickly tell the difference between buses that have a franchise versus the colorum.

There maybe an answer based on my conversation with my friend Benedict Go, who taught me about the advances in GPS technology coupled with telecoms technology.

In the early years, GPS or Global Positioning Technology was simply about transmitting a signal in order to show where a person or a vehicle may be. Through the years, the technology has evolved in combination with computers and telecommunications technology so that companies are now using it to monitor inventory simply through bar codes sensors and transmitters.

When a box passes through a bar code reader records the data, transmits the information to an on-board computer (aka GPS) that can be accessed from another office, town or city. You no longer have to go to a remote factory or plant, you have 24-hour access and updates while the cargo moves or is in transit.

Even chemical or fuel tankers that are always pilfered by the “Pa-ihi’ gang” who siphon and sell fuel along the highway can now be stopped by changing the mechanical caps with computer controlled valves that also monitors content levels while the GPS monitors the tankers route, stops, duration of travel and stop overs. By having such features, the GPS provides data that can be studied for added efficiency, security and safety.

The beauty of the GPS products is that they cannot be tampered with; they operate on codes and are independently monitored by the service provider. They are not cheap to duplicate but not overly expensive for a serious transport operator or bus company.

Added incentive or possibility from GPS tracking is that it provides electronic record of movement. Placed on top of a grid, you can possibly monitor if a bus driver stayed in lane, obstructed traffic by staying too long, or stopping where the bus is not suppose to stop. Such technology works right along the policy of No-contact citation and penalty.

So if bus companies were required to enroll in a GPS tracking system, all you would have to do is call the GPS operator and ask if bus # with code # is legitimate and on the right route? The same can be for cabs, jeepneys and trucks. No argument, just science and technology.

*   *   *

Considering all the tension and emotion that got stirred up by the Toll hike controversy, one would think that some real solutions would have been found. But alas poor Gorio it will be business as usual unless we all work at making solutions.

As I listened to various opinions from commuters, one message in the form of a question seemed to say it all: “why should us taxpayers have to pay extra for something that the government is suppose to be providing?”

So what is the government doing?

For decades we have heard their sorry ass excuse that the government does not have the money to build highways and airports. For decades Filipinos simply accepted the excuse and lived with the financial consequence of Build-Operate schemes.

For decades we accepted that it was the price to pay for being a nation of tax evaders.

But ever since the tax system was overhauled where employees lost a lot of exemptions and loopholes to commit tax avoidance, ever since the Value Added Tax or VAT was put in place we were, by force of circumstance, turned into a compliant tax paying society.

We may not be able to say the same for the rich and powerful 16% of the population or most of the companies or businesses who continue to get away with tax avoidance but for most of the ordinary Filipinos, we now pay taxes because it is taken from us before we even get our pay.

So it is only fair to ask; what is the government doing about the basic needs and services that we should be getting, rather than the decades old excuse of not having money.

How is it that the government can afford to waste money on non-essentials, on pork barrel, debt servicing and yet not even address basic essentials such as plain and simple non-toll roads to bring us from or to our homes?

Why should Filipinos sacrifice because people in government don’t listen or are simply incompetent? When Secretary Sonny Coloma suggested that those who don’t want to pay toll, should use the service road, I countered and challenged Malacanang to improve the service road.

Why not expand, improve and manage the service road just like they do in the toll road. The government has the power to expropriate, expand and extend the service road. They can place strategically located terminals and loading bays. They can create and maintain a service road authority to control, patrol and haul any obstruction.

Stop giving excuses because you no longer have an excuse. If you want our tax money, we want you to do your job and not give us lip service. And please don’t ask us to make sacrifices while you live and work in places with free electricity, gasoline, staff and security because that is not sacrificial living.