A better City of Manila

As the capital of the country Manila represents the Philippines in international news and print media. What foreign and local visitors see in  Manila  are expected to be better than what people see in other cities in the country. After all, Manila is where the official residence of the President of the Philippines is located, and the offices of the Supreme Court, Court of Appeals, Department of Tourism and National Bureau of Investigation.

And yet these high offices of the country are surrounded by elements that deface them and crimes in their vicinity are frequently reported. These do not make us proud.

I appeal to Mayor Joseph Estrada to transform Manila into truly the capital city of the country. I wish he can permanently:

1) Help repair the inner streets and discipline  vehicle owners parking on narrow alternate roads.

2) Rehabilitate the Malate-Ermita area to its grand old days.

3) Stop the fun run and other activities on Roxas Blvd. on Sundays and holidays. It is a major road to the airport and several hospitals  and catastrophic to motorists in a hurry.

4) Improve the  street lights to prevent crimes and injuries, especially in areas like Pedro Gil  around  Philippine General Hospital and Maria Orosa and all  roads connecting to nearby cities.

5) Make clear and visible signs for public information.

6) Designate areas where the public can wait and get off public transportations.

7) Clear the sidewalks used by institutions as waiting areas for applicants and vendors. The large number of pedestrians have no choice but use the streets as there are little space left to use.

8) Intervene for public’s sake to solve flooding even on ordinary rainy days, and the traffic caused by jeepneys, buses and pedicabs at the intersections especially of UN Avenue and Taft Avenue.

9) Have sanitary inspectors check operations of vendors selling street foods.

10)  Make people on the streets follow street signs and traffic lights.

What we have observed and appreciate in other countries we have been wishing many times will also be applied in the Philippines. While  I can already see Mayor Joseph Estrada doing some visible improvements this early,  I  would like to strongly appeal to  him  for  needed  permanent  implementation of order, discipline and beautification of the city of Manila for it to deserve the status of being the capital city of the Philippines. — RICARDO R. BRAGANZA, MD, Manila