Traffic SNAFU

Several strong measures to improve the traffic flow in Naga have been implemented. Backed up by equally strong, if not stringent, city ordinances that dreams of-- with the word dream emphasized, improving in the slightest degree the traffic situation in the city. These, complemented by an equally capable traffic enforcement team from the ranks of the Public Safety Office and the Naga PNP personnel, one could surmise its a smooth ride towards any point of destination within Naga. But wait....

Everyday I travel from my house in Del Rosario to the pedicab station in BMC going to the office and yes it takes me approximately one hour to make it. This is situation normal. Don't ask how much time it would take to reach one's workplace or the Central Business District 1, during fiesta time or the christmas season. It usually takes forever.

But on the brighter side of it, long rides give me enough time to observe the situation. A familiarization tour of Naga's trafficflow gets me preoccupied, pretty much about excuses to make up for showing late on a client meeting. I watch in desperation the jeepneys scurrying for passengers in what i would call mid-road terminals (in front of Villa Grande homes, SSS building, and Immaculate Conception Church) of the delrosario-concepcion-centro route. Are jeepneys supposed to pick up passengers unloaded from buses at the middle of the road? Do enforcers take their early pancit bato breakfast for this situation to go unnoticed? Do I have to consider having breakfast at home before going to the office or be ready for the onset of hyperacidity and/or stomach ulcer?

Questions... questions... questions... One thing is clear as vivid no holds barred violations of these streetcalawags, traffic enforcement in the city needs to be taken seriously. And I mean, a cultural assimmilation, if not a miracle, of disciplined and sustainable traffic management of sort must happen, in a pace that matches the city's hurried march towards development.