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IT HAS been for several years now that we, the commuters and motorists, are silently cursing the chaotic traffic situation in our city. One junction that really causes blood to boil is the daily traffic jam at the Mambaling junction leading to SRP.
The traffic aides in this particular area are more concerned in arresting traffic violators, those that make left turn to SRP from C. Padilla extension, than imposing smooth traffic flow. You can find these CITOM personnel positioned at a burger stand at the SRP entrance or at a bakery on the C. Padilla street side, out of the motorists view, waiting for violators to pounce on, while leaving the motorists hapless with the monstrous traffic jam. You can always see two CITOM personnel just watching and doing nothing about this terrible situation. In the morning, you can observe them under the flyover talking and bantering with the motorcycle policemen oblivious to the traffic mess around them. If not, they positioned themselves at the bakery leading to the barangay hall just watching the scenarios unfolding before them, doing nothing.
Try calling their attention and they will just glare at you. This pathetic situation is a daily occurrence in this junction; worst, during school days, traffic mess is becoming more unbearable. It can ruin not only your day but more so your state of mind in going to work. Traffic only becomes smooth when these CITOM personnel do their job when they know that the honorable mayor is about to pass by the area from his residence in Basak.
It would be better appreciated if the CITOM chairman or CITOM chief will go out from their air-conditioned offices and conduct a daily round of inspection on the city streets of Cebu so that they can have a first-hand experience of the wrongdoings of their personnel. This flyover has only worsened the traffic situation in Mambaling, and worst, the space below this flyover is now converted into a parking area.
It is a shame, that an extension office of the CITOM is situated just at the corner of N. Bacalso Avenue, and the underpass fronting this is the "tambayan area" of the motorcycle cops, and yet, nobody is doing anything to man the traffic or ease the traffic gridlock. Worst, the Mambaling barangay officials are numb on this problem, and busy doing nothing.
I hope that the good mayor will call the attention of the concerned "public servants" to do their jobs, if not, fire them ASAP. We don't deserve this kind of inept service but disservice.
Very truly yours,
Solitario Santiago
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