THE admonition was coined decades ago during the Chinese communist rebellion by its leader: “No investigation, no right to speak.” It was not about rumormongering but about leaders being objective when doing their work. Ideas that guide action often jump out of our minds even without careful study. The admonition is a more colorful way of saying, study first before implementing policies.
The Mactan-Cebu Bridge Management Board (MCBMB) is composed of people who are supposed to be knowledgeable in their fields of expertise, but knowledge is not solely past learning but includes understanding present situations. It is guided not solely by one’s expertise but also by facts culled from situations where one’s expertise has to be applied. Thus this advice against jumping to conclusions, which essentially is the same banana as the admonition, “no investigation, no right to speak.”
I could just imagine the eagerness of the members of the MCBMB to share their suggestions, guided by their knowledge and expertise, when the matter of preventing people from jumping to their death from the two bridges connecting the Cebu mainland to Mactan Island. I just don’t know how those suggestions became solidified into policies and regulations.
But first objectivity, There is actually reason for some sectors to “bash” the members of MCBMB for implementing policies and regulations to supposedly deter people from committing suicides from the two bridges but which in the end inconvenienced many. I welcomed the implementation of those regulations but not for the reason these were intended.
It is because of this that the complaint of some people can be justified. There seems to be a disconnect between the importance of the problem to be solved and the solution offered. If it were bridge security and not suicide attempts, one could find a semblance of a balance. But not in this case.
Was a deeper study conducted on the matter before those measures were put in place? Figures presented include the following: 17 persons were prevented from jumping from the Marcelo Fernan Bridge from January to Sept. 9, 2019; another one jumped off but was rescued from the sea while two others died. On the first bridge, 15 were prevented from jumping, one was rescued from the sea and two died.
No study was conducted, of course, on the number of people that walk or ride bicycles on the bridge, their economic circumstances, etc. and, more importantly, how many of them would be affected just so suicide attempts atop the bridges would be prevented. Or how necessary should it be to focus too much on suicides to the detriment of other concerns?
I like Lapu-Lapu City Mayor Ahong Chan’s input on the one-way pedestrian traffic the Board imposed on the old bridge. He said: “(For) Students from elementary to high schools and college, it’s convenient for them to walk on the right side when going to Mandaue. On their way back, the left side is convenient for them. We also cannot let them cross from one side of the bridge to the other; that’s too risky.”
So clueless MCBMB members now know.