By Richiel Santisas
It’s too soon to tell whether the recently unveiled “BanTal Discipline Zone,” aimed at alleviating chronic traffic congestion along the Banilad-Talamban corridor in northern Cebu City, will be a success. Rerouting public utility vehicles, implementing a stricter truck ban, and designating a motorcycle lane may be easier said than done.
Nevertheless, the City Government ought to be commended for trying to address these long-standing issues. It can’t be denied that the population density in that part of the city has doubled, if not tripled, over the last two decades, while the road infrastructure has, for the most part, remained the same.
It also cannot be denied that part of the solution might be as simple as disciplining drivers, whether public or private. It’s unfair to heap all the blame on jeepney drivers, most of whom are forced to multi-task just to earn a decent living. Yes, they stop wherever they want to pick up or drop off passengers, but that’s common knowledge.
In this case, a lot of patience and understanding is called for.