THERE is a confluence of factors that contribute to the worsening traffic congestion in Cagayan de Oro.
These could be simple negligence on mass transport operators or inutile government agencies. We'll talk about it some other time. For now, let's talk about the obligation of taxi owners.
Last week I saw in my Facebook feed this rant of Erna Gamones Maagad of Rotary Club of West Cagayan de Oro and BCPB who called on the owner of taxi # VD 4950.
She said she was nearly hit by the driver who speeded up while she crossed Limketkai to Shopwise. Maagad's call to the owner instead of the taxi driver makes sense since a lot of taxi drivers are notoriously careless in the first place.
Maagad's complaint may be a simple rant but on the surface I believed and hoped that it would get reactions from concerned agencies. But based on the comments I read, the only ones who reacted were those who had similar experiences.
I have been away from Cagayan de Oro for eight years and had been home four times for short visits. The last time I was home, the traffic was really heavy and sort of nothing has changed except in Divisoria and some few areas.
In fact, traffic is not only heavy in the city proper but in the roads leading to the province as well with the highway crowded by motorcycle riders and traysikad drivers.
Again, Maagad's post was timely since it was directed to the employer and not the employee who in this case is the taxi driver whose mindset and driving skills are not different from the other public utility vehicle (PUV) drivers who think they own the streets.
Taxi operators have a big role in influencing traffic flow since they employ the drivers who are out on the streets. Whereas the drivers are under the Land Transportation Office (LTO), the operators are under the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) who can take away their franchise to operate.
Taxi operators generally hire or lease their cabs to drivers and there are taxi operators that drive their own taxi. I am directing these to operators with many units.
These taxi drivers always believe they own the streets that I just wondered if their employers pay taxes to maintain the road or that the only tax they pay is their license.
In the US you are taxed to use the streets, roads, highways and interstate. But let's go back to these taxi operators.
The LTFRB should hold seminars in which these operators are continually reminded of their social responsibility towards the riding public and the pedestrians.
If these operators fail to attend these seminars which ideally should be held every six months then it should be marked against them unless they have a very valid reason not to attend.
And these operators should relay these lessons to their drivers so they would be better disciplined. For those unfamiliar, social responsibility means self-discipline and regulation among companies and owners.
A cursory look at the definition of social responsibility or in this case corporate responsibility and we learn that it is a self-regulatory mechanism in which businesses monitor and ensure their active compliance of the law, ethical standards and national or international norms.
We have been hearing this term for so long that simply put, social responsibility is about giving back what you owe to the community as your customer is the community.
I wonder if after paying the fee at designated government agencies the taxi owner is being lectured and reminded of the important role they play in decongesting traffic in the streets?
Is there some department at the LTFRB that handles this job? If not maybe they can contract it out to other agencies. Maagad's rant is valid and timely.
It is my wish that government agencies also should have somebody who would monitor social media sites and see if there are complaints which have bearing on their jurisdiction.
I doubt there are people assigned to that because government agencies can't even properly run their websites or have inactive social media accounts.
The world is changing due to technology and Maagad's complaint should be acted on pronto. Otherwise the next pedestrian may wind up dead because of these stupid taxi drivers.
I wish that this year, government agencies should be more responsible and address complaints made to their office through social media site.
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I congratulate City Councilor Suzette Magtajas-Daba for her efforts in expanding the coverage of the City College Scholarship Program.
Maybe in the days ahead we can dissect the program so people may know about it especially parents and students.
I hope the expanded coverage of the scholarship program would contain clearly defined criteria so people can avail of it easily. To be honest, I have not yet read the entire ordinance expanding the program and I will see if we can obtain a copy of the ordinance.
(Comments susanap.dennis@yahoo.com)
