Tulabut: Relocate Quarry Check Points (2)

Friday, July 22, 2011

I AM running the column I wrote in May this year. Prior to this article, I also wrote other pieces about the quarry check points that really need to be relocated.

Such call remains unheard. I don't know what's keeping our public servants from doing that. In a chance meeting with ART PUNZALAN whose office oversees these check points, I mentioned to him for the nth time the need to relocate these which I will now call as TOOLS FOR COUNTERPRODUCTICITY AND OBSTRUCTION.

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He keeps telling me that he was told (probably by his staff in the field) that they have been moved. I really do not know if Mr. Punsalan is too trusting or gullible but my daily routine of passing by the check points would tell me that MR. PUNSALAN IS BEING TAKEN FOR A RIDE by no less than his people. What a pity there.

With my past articles and personal follow-ups that appear going to oblivion, I am tempted to follow an advice from one close aide of Governor Lilia Pineda to write a letter to her. Does Mr. Punsalan still need me to add to already full plate of Nanay? Mr. Punsalan has the answer.

In Mabalacat, I don't know what is keeping Budget Head ROGER TANGLAO (who is in charge of quarry revenues) and even Municipal Administrator ROSAN PACQUIA from getting their acts together. These people are my kumpadres both but public interest tells me that I should also prompt them to action.

The recent rains have pounded the road pavement so hard. It is very obvious that the pavements in front of these check points err obstructions are far worse than the craters of the moon as asphalt's main nemesis is water. The recent heavy rains have amplified even more the need for their relocation.

Heavy, overloaded sand and gravel trucks plus water from their payload plus stops at the check points is a sure formula for pavement destruction.

Violation of laws on overloading plus lack of action plus deaf ears is an equation that brings only counter productivity, disappointments and distrust on government people who are supposed to do their jobs.

That's pathetic.

Relocate quarry check points

Calling the ATTENTION AGAIN of the provincial government and the municipality of Mabalacat as well to relocate their sand and gravel check points at Barangay Mamatitang (near Baptist Church) and at the back of old municipal building at Poblacion, respectively.

Specifically called here is ART PUNSALAN of PENRO whose office oversees the checkpoints. You might have been given inaccurate report by your staff in the field as I understand you already called on them. THAT CHECKPOINT STILL CAUSES TRAFFIC and it contributes to destruction of pavement of Macarthur Highway. I would like to invite Mr. Punsalan to personally inspect this site and see for himself the potholes caused by trucks that drip water from their payload of sand. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that water easily breaks asphalt pavements.

I am pretty sure that Gov. Lilia Pineda would only want a smooth flow of traffic and that the roads within the province are in tip-top conditions.

For the Mabalacat government, I am calling the attention of Budget head ROGER TANGLAO who is to make a decision on relocating the checkpoint as quarry revenue operations fall under him. I believe that Municipal Administrator Rosan Pacquia has already called your attention on this matter through a memorandum.

This concern has also been already brought to the attention of Mayor Marino Morales who poses no objection to the transfer. As in that Mamatitang checkpoint, this one also stalls vehicular traffic and these heavy trucks pound the highway pavement to its destruction.

Baka naman po pwedeng ilipat na ang mga checkpoints nayan MISMO sa lugar na pinang gagalingan ng mga trucks (Dolores, Tabun areas) na kung saan walang naabalang tao at walang nasisirang mga daan sanhi ng mga truck nayan.

These checkpoints, only about 200 meters apart, do not only cause traffic. They also cause mishaps and freak accidents as trucks that are to pay dues at these checkpoints do not have enough space on the highway's shoulders. The tendency is that motorists behind the trucks find themselves overtaking in an awkward manner and then find themselves head-on with oncoming vehicles.

You see, there's huge money that is being collected from quarry operations. In fact, the provincial government boasts of P20 million collection per month. That means there is enough money to repair those roads destroyed by quarry trucks, and there's also ample money to construct a decent quarry checkpoints where they won't cause traffic. This money could also serve as funding for security guards that will be deployed at the checkpoints.

What the PENRO and the municipal government of Mabalacat could probably do is to put up an honest to goodness quarry collection outpost in Dolores and Tabun areas - right at the source where sand is being loaded onto trucks.

Somewhere along the way of these trucks bound for Metro Manila or any point south of Mabalacat and Clark, there are also mini checkers of the barangays that also collect the so-called passway fees.

Some 50 meters after trucks paid their dues at the old municipal building, a collection of passway fees are paid for Barangay Poblacion. Imagine the trucks having to stop for three times for collection points that are within 500 meters? Imagine the traffic they cause?

That's counter-productivity personified.

From the Mabalacat Gate of Clark Freeport all the way east to the entry point to NLEX in Sta Ines, there are also passway collectors posted. Right outside the gate is the passway collector for Barangay San Francisco, then, after a kilometer away, there's the Sta. Ines passway collection point near the landmark arch of Mabalacat.

By the way, I wonder if these collection points are really legitimate and if they issue official receipts from the government. I hope wala ng papel soswa dito.