How CCTO can improve our traffic situation

My readers know that my concerns for traffic have always been  genuine, which is why I volunteered to be traffic czar during the time of then Cebu City Mayor Tomas Osmeña as my way of helping my city. Thankfully this spirit of volunteerism has not left me and every time I drive I always keep an eye on how we can improve our traffic system.

First and foremost is the cementing of A. S. Fortuna Avenue has now reached the Peace Convent and yesterday morning traffic was heavy going to Mandaue and it was only then did I find out that the construction work for the road has reached the boundary between Cebu City and Mandaue City. Somehow the construction workers did not care to inform our traffic authorities about their work, hence there is only one car width lane available as you pass between the road island onwards A. S. Fortuna Ave.

Sensing that traffic management groups both in Cebu City and Mandaue City didn't know the traffic situation, I immediately called City Traffic Operations chief Joy Tumulak to tell him that the only way to solve the existing problem right away is to demolish parts of the island so as to allow more cars to enter A. S. Fortuna Avenue with ease. Well Mr. Tumulak was in Bohol when I called him, but he told me that he would look into this issue immediately. If traffic continues to be terrible in that area, then you can say that the Cebu City Traffic Office  hasn't done anything despite our suggestions.

Meanwhile, day-in and day-out traffic is bumper-to-bumper in Escario Street from morning, noon, to rush hour. In fact in many parts of Cebu City, rush hour doesn't exist anymore because traffic is always snarled in major streets and avenues. Mind you, during the 2010 presidential campaign, this is what presidential aspirant Gilbert "Gibo" Teodoro, Jr. promised to us Cebuanos. Alas, it was his cousin Pres. Benigno Aquino III who won the elections, courtesy of the Precinct Count Optical Scan machines the nation's first electronic vote cheating machines. But I can't help it but dream that if only Gibo won, the traffic along Escario Street wouldn't be as bad as it is today. But then we must continue to tell our political leaders that that road has already become a necessity for Cebu City.

So let's hear it from Mayor Mike Rama or his challenger former Mayor Tomas Osmeña whether they would make a campaign promise to immediately implement the opening of the road from Guadalupe Fire Station all the way to the University of the Philippines Lahug campus? Indeed, it's about time we asked our national and local government when will Cebu City get its infrastructure that would help ease its traffic problems?

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The talk of the town today is whether or not we will see a reduction in our taxes, where the Philippines is considered the highest in Asia. Towards this issue, I got this essay from Mr. Joseph Jose So, which is self-explanatory.

"In my humble opinion, in layman terms, flat income tax is more appropriate than the progressive tax form of taxation on individual income in the Philippine environment. It is common knowledge that Income tax is a very complex subject. In this essay, the issue is tax savings on disposable income (income less tax) is addressed. One of the common objections to progressive tax form is it penalizes the productive ability of the individual: the more income he makes the higher is the tax rate.

Under this situation, his disposable income for his basic needs is reduced. On the other hand, in the flat income tax situation the rate is fixed regardless of the individual's income. Under this situation his disposal income is increased. As an example, say applicable progressive tax is 30% and the flat income tax is 10%, the 20% difference represent an increase in disposable income. In the context of the Philippines, it is my guess that the individual disposable income is very low. One of the reasons is the progressive tax form.

To increase the income, a flat income tax rate should be adopted. The rate will be fixed based on quantified information, say, income distribution based on filed individual income returns. In my humble opinion, the rate could be 5 to 10%. One of the common arguments by tax authorities is any tax rate reduction means low tax revenues. In my humble opinion, this argument does not apply to disposable income because of its multiplier effect on the economy.

The income would result in more business for suppliers of the basic needs: food, housing, and education. More business, more tax revenues. Another positive effect of the income is the individual can now choose the type of basic needs: better nutrient food, housing, and education. Finally, in the coming elections, I hope candidates should look into the positive vote getting value of the flat income tax as one of its goals in their platforms. Joseph Jose So" Thank you Mr. So for this very enlightening piece because it has helped me understand that the Philippines needed to reform its tax program yesterday!

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