Open Letter to Noynoy Part 2
Beyond the Wang Wang: Fixing Road, Traffic and Pedestrian Discipline
Has Ancillary Effects

Mr President,

When one visited Gordon's Subic in the mid 90's, it was like entering
a different world far removed from the chaos of road discipline found
in urban and provincial Philippines: We would actually stop at
intersections, observe speed limits, walk in the proper lanes. We knew
we would be flagged and caught for noncompliance. It came to a point
where even when there were no Subic cops physically around, we
followed these internal road rules anyway. Why is our road and
pedestrian behavior in Subic and in other countries exemplary, only to
horribly deteriorate when we step out of these places? It is simply
discipline and enforcement, stuff that the "common tao" should see,
observe, feel, internalize, comply.

When we see law enforcers corrupting themselves with "tong" and
"lagay" in our very streets, we permit road chaos. Jail these errants.
Replace them with young, idealistic incorruptibles.

Mendicants and hawkers on public roads? They are jaywalkers and pose a
road hazard to us and impose a health hazard on themselves. Apprehend
them and their "business managers" who allow them on public roads
which are for motorists and pedestrians, not for them.

When we see motorists making "lagay" and giving "tong," jail them.

Jaywalkers? Apprehend them. Apo Ferdie in the 70s made them trim grass
as their fine for all to see. That was a good thing, right? It should
be made shameful to jaywalk.

Smokebelching public transport? Give our Vice President who rode to
his June 30 inauguration on an e-jeepney something worthwhile to do.
Have him electrify or solar power ALL urban and provincial buses
jeepneys and tricycles. They have solar powered tuktuks in Thailand
already, don't they?

Buses, jeepneys, tricycles that don't avail of their stops and keep to
their designated lanes? Suspend their licenses. Reinstate them when
they show evidence of compliance in our streets.

Public conveyance stops are to be situated in places AWAY from thruway
traffic flow. Eliminate bus, jeepney and tricycle stops that impede
thruway traffic flow. Forever. Pedestrians walking a bit longer to
their destination will be good for cardiovascular health anyway.
Mallowners and building permit issuers should be prosecuted for
building their "traffic magnets" in proximity to major roads.

Remove vendors and physical obstructions from public sidewalks and
conveyance stops. Please.

When the common tao sees and feels the effectivity of enforcement of
road, traffic and pedestrian rules on our very streets, they will
learn to comply with their other civic duties and responsibilities as
paying their taxes and not breaking the law because they will realize
that the State will not let them get away with it.

We need to feel your changes first on our streets, Mr President,
beyond the wang wang. The State must impose order to the War in Our
Streets. This war is ongoing, the enemy is the lack of discipline and
law enforcement, and the State must win this war QUICKLY to make our
streets the FIRST visible, palpable shining example to the world of
your resolve.

ENFORCE DISCIPLINE ON OUR ROADS. IT WILL HAVE EFFECTS FAR BEYOND THEM.