A VETERAN politician is reportedly considering withdrawing his candidacy due to failing health. He fears he won’t be able to physically handle the rigors of the campaign, especially as some of the sorties will be in the local government’s mountain barangays.
Allies of the veteran politician frowned at the prospect. Many of them fear that without the veteran politician, their party would crumble.
The veteran politician, through shrewd maneuvering, was able to secure an alliance with a national party. But the veteran’s allies feel that the alliance is still in a delicate stage.
The allies are proposing that the veteran politician switch positions with a younger relative, who is seeking reelection in a higher office. They said that the campaign for that post may not be as tough as the veteran politician held that post for many years.
* * *
Shifting gears
The traffic congestion appears to support the entry of habal-habal (motorcycle for hire) in the new business districts of Cebu City.
Habal-habals now abound in the Cebu Business Park, Panagdait area, Juan Luna Ave. and Cebu I.T. Park.
Habal-habals are the favored mode of transport in upland areas. But recently, more and more habal-habals are roaming around the new business districts.
In a traffic jam, the habal-habals can move between stalled vehicles and reach their destinations in no time. They can get into narrow roads, use sidewalks or street gutters. Some even defy traffic lights.
The habal-habal drivers also know the rules. They keep a second helmet to be used by their passengers.
The habal-habals are tolerated by private security guards, who probably have no idea what to do with them in the first place.
* * *
Bike lanes
Mandaue City is planning to establish bike lanes to ensure the safety of people who pedal to work or school.
Bicycles are eco-friendly alternative to motorcycles and allow cyclists to get past traffic jams, which seem to have become the norm in December and January in Cebu.
City streets are always more crowded with vehicles during the holidays and the Sinulog. These days, the situation has become worse because of road works.
In October 2014, the Cebu City Council passed an ordinance providing for the creation of bike lanes. But the enforcement of the ordinance seemed to have been forgotten as the City Council is preoccupied with the Supplemental Budget 1.
Mandaue might even arrive at the goal before Cebu City. This is a shame as strong biking advocates in Cebu City worked for years to have that ordinance passed.
Meanwhile, in Iloilo City, bike lanes are a reality. The Iloilo City Council passed a bike lane ordinance in August 2015