The Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration (Pagasa) declared the start of the rainy season earlier this week. Normally, I take this with a grain of salt. After all, nothing is as unpredictable as the weather. Even with all the technology available today, forecasting can never be definite. But when you consider the times Pagasa has been way off the mark in past forecasts, its track record has been truly exceptional.
So when the heavens opened up yesterday and dumped what felt like several barrels of water on Metro Cebu, I almost couldn’t believe it. Did Pagasa really hit the forecast on the nail this time? “Finally,” I thought, “there is hope for Pagasa.”
No more guessing games, I guess. When Pagasa issues an advisory, everyone should take heed, especially those living in calamity-prone areas.
With that said, I’d like to make my own forecast for the upcoming days and weeks.
I’m sure many politicians in the metro cities will be discussing the flooding situation in their jurisdictions. And how much do you want to wager that they will be discussing the same things they’ve discussed since time immemorial to address the problem?
Dredging waterways will surely come up. So will building gabion dams in the mountains or implementing a new drainage system. The thing is, everything that can be said about the subject has been said. So many different solutions from so many bright politicians, ahem, and yet the problem continues to plague metro residents when this time of year comes.
And I can imagine that with the return of classes in public elementary and high schools, not only in Cebu but across the rest of the country on June 16, talks will revert to ensuring the safety of our youth.
Of course, heavy rains bring heavy traffic. And I was witness to that yesterday afternoon while waiting to cross Osmeña Blvd. at the P. del Rosario intersection.
There I was, huddled in the corner, wet, my umbrella too small to protect me from the downpour. The downtown-bound vehicles couldn’t cross even though the light had turned green because vehicles from P. del Rosario had blocked their path. With no traffic enforcer in sight, local drivers tend to forget the cardinal rule of always leaving the intersection open.
Sometimes, I truly believe the metro’s worsening traffic situation is caused by a lack of driver discipline. That, or they think themselves clever if they beat the system and give themselves a pat on the back. Or perhaps they are ignorant of the rules and regulations because they never took the seminar, having simply paid for their license. Oh, come on, don’t be naive.
With that said, I read that the Cebu City Government will crack down on illegal parking. Again. For the umpteenth time.
How’s this for unsolicited advice? Enforce the parking laws. With no exceptions. If a vehicle is found parking on the sidewalk, clamp it, even if the owner is a cop. The same goes for parking along Osmeña Boulevard and parts of R.R. Landon Road. It’s prohibited. And yet, traffic enforcers and authorities look the other way when vehicles park there because their owners happen to be police officials attending a meeting at the Police Regional Office 7 headquarters.
How about they leave their patrol cars at their respective stations and take public transportation? At least they wouldn’t contribute to city traffic, and they could save gas at the same time. It’s like hitting two birds with one stone.
Or are they above taking public transportation?
Anyway, I’d like to close this column with the opening lyrics of a Eurythmics song from way back when:
“Here comes the rain again / Falling on my head like a memory / Falling on my head like a true emotion / I want to walk in the open wind / I want to talk like lovers do / Want to dive into your ocean / Is it raining with you?”