Almost on a daily basis, accidents are happening on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City causing deaths, injuries and damage to property of hundreds of persons. The latest accident resulted in the death of ex Makati RTC Judge Reynaldo Laigo and his wife, Layla when their Pajero was hit by a speeding bus. Two out of three accidents involved a bus or truck.
The continuing bad situation at Commonwealth Avenue is symptomatic of the inefficiency and indifference of government, both national and Quezon City. MMDA, DPWH, PNP, DOTC, LTO and LTFRB share part of the blame. And so do the bus companies with a few exceptions.
What is regrettable is the solution is there under the noses of the officials of the above agencies. The common sense solutions are:
1. Reduce the speed limit from 60 kph to 45 kph;
2. Reserve one of the 10 lanes exclusively for motorcycles;
3. Restrict the buses and jeepneys to the three inner lanes;
4. Remove the U-turn barriers and install traffic lights at several intersections to force buses to slow down;
5. Assign at least 8 motorcycle cops and/or mobile patrol units to constantly monitor the flow of traffic;
6. Bus owners to reduce the fuel injection of buses so their speed is limited. Don Mariano Transit has already adopted this practice;
7. LTO to screen all drivers of buses plying Commonwealth Ave. and make sure they are trained law abiding drivers. Drivers caught speeding or reckless driving should have their licenses suspended for a year;
The DPWH and the MMDA bear some responsibility for the poor design of the avenue, considering that cross streets come from a lower elevation, forcing them to drive up faster and sometimes their front hoods land on the top at the Avenue without seeing the incoming traffic, especially speeding buses.
It is estimated that for 2009, there have been more than 200 accidents on Commonwealth Avenue. This cannot be allowed to continue. Too many people have already died on this avenue of death.
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HERE ARE OUR CHOICES FOR THE TOP 10 STORIES OF 2010:
1. Election of Benigno “Noynoy” Aquino III as President
President Erap is allowed to run. He comes in 2nd; Manny Villar poor 3rd.
2. Makati Mayor Jojo Binay upsets Senator Mar Roxas for the Vice Presidency
3. Aug. 23 hostage crisis with 8 persons killed
4. Supreme Court declares EO No. 1 creating the Truth Commission unconstitutional
5. Samar-Balay factions infighting surfaces
6. P-Noy grants amnesty to military rebels; Trillanes is released
7. Manny Paquiao wins against Clottey and Margarito, gets 8 titles
8. Destruction from Typhoon Basyang
9. 2011 budget signed Dec. 27
1st time in 11 years, no reenactment.
10. Bomb explodes at La Salle Bar Exams salubong
More than 40 hurt. Law student Raissa Laurel’s two legs amputated.
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READ THE COLUMNISTS. .In President Aquino’s New Year message, he admitted that corruption in government is continuing. He asked the public to help him fight corruption. The public is ready to cooperate. But will the government listen? Read all the columnists. Listen to Ted Failon, Anthony Taberna and Gerry Baja and other broadcasters, and there’s enough reporting of continuing corruption at the Bureau of Customs, different levels of the Philippine National Police, DPWH, DOTC, especially LTO, LTFRB and CAAP, Bureau of Immigration and Deportation, DENR, Fire departments, even with the lawyers of the Ombudsman and the DOJ Prosecution Service.
Yes, Mr. President, marami pa ring corrupt. The ball is now in your hands. Start firing the bad eggs.
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HE’S REALLY ANGRY. .Despite advice to the contrary, President Aquino is continuing his war against the Supreme Court. After the signing of the 2011 budget at Malacañang, P-Noy complained to Palace reporters that the Supreme Court is singling him out, adding that “the greatest difficulty has been no secret, it has to do with the judiciary. Judicial obstacles are the biggest challenge for 2011.”
Daily, we see Supreme Court Spokesman Jose Midas Marquez and Presidential Spokesman Edwin Lacierda exchanging barbs.
With P-Noy going full blast against the Supreme Court, expect no quick end to this war, despite advice from Senate President Enrile, Sen. Joker Arroyo, Representatives Edcel Lagman, Karlo Nograles and Mitos Magsaysay, that P-Noy should respect the Supreme Court and the separation of powers.
Wait for the decision of the Supreme Court on the Hacienda Luisita case and on Executive Order No. 2.
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LAST WEEK OF CRIME. .The last days of 2010 is ending with a bang, yes, on the crime front. On December 25, the church inside Camp Asturias, the PNP Provincial Headquarters in Jolo, Sulu was bombed during mass, wounding the priest and 10 others.
In Abra, Philippine Army Sgt. Arnold Abulayan and Merlynda Loja on board a motorcycle were held up by three men with M-16 rifles riding in a red plate government jeep owned by Vice Mayor Gerome Dizon of Danglas, Abra.
Yesterday, Barangay Chairman Ramon Lopez was shot dead by two men riding on a motorcycle at Barangay Ugong, Valenzuela City. In Pasay, holduppers killed a passenger of a jeepney that was robbed. And on Tuesday morning, housewife Yvonne Chua, 31, was killed when she opened a gift box which exploded killing her instantaneously in the sala of their Taguig City home. In Cotabato City, another grenade explosion has killed one soldier and wounded another. Patricio Aguilan, 51, was shot dead in La Trinidad, Benguet.
SPO4 Rodolfo Ladaban was shot dead inside the dental clinic of his wife, Dr. Jennie Ladaban in Valenzuela last week while last Tuesday, the dental clinic of Dr. Jean Tan in Barangay Talipapa, QC was robbed.
No protection for the ordinary citizen.