Have they succeeded

By Egay Uy

“Have they succeeded?”– Criss Jami, Killosophy

HAVE they succeeded, those who have been moving heaven and earth to prevent the Moreno administration from delivering even the most basic services to the people of Cagayan de Oro?

Have they, whose self-interest vision, succeeded in crippling the operation of the various departments of the city government so that the Moreno administration will be projected as unsuccessful in its pursuit of the agenda for which it was voted to the seat of government by the people of Cagayan de Oro?

They probably think they have but the RTA will be relentless in pursuing what it has committed to do. We already know that the Roads and Traffic Administration is one such department in the city government whose proposed budget for 2015 was literally castrated by the honorable men and women that compose the majority bloc of the city council.

The RTA could have deployed, on regular basis, ninety more traffic officers or aides to address the clamor of road users for orderly streets and sidewalks. And even as ninety is not even enough, the budget was zeroed. Cebu City’s Citom for instance, which started its campaign for a traffic-disciplined citizenry some thirty years ago, has 119 personnel for its Pay-Parking Operations alone.

Lately, even as the RTA has been doing its best to address the problems besetting the city because of years of neglect, its resources will only enable it to pursue its plans on a gradual phase-by-phase basis. Even the most bold of optimism will not make miracles happen at the flick of a finger without the needed budgetary support.

Given these, the RTA will continue to pursue reforms albeit on a gradual basis. A reorganization that will affect its biggest unit, Traffic Enforcement, will also be implemented. This unit will be placed directly under the baton of Engr. Nonito “Electra” Oclarit who will be actively assisted by Carmelito “Equalizer” Deloso, following the transfer of Ricardo “Mamboo” Valerio to the City Administrator’s Office.

RTA Engineering will continue to be headed by Engr. Sherwin “Magneto” Cabactulan while the Case Filing and Warrant group will still be headed by Dennis “Wireman” Naive. These two are the better performing regulars of the department.

The tasks of William “Interceptor” Adecer assigned by the City Administrator’s Office will be streamlined so he can either give his full attention to the RTA or the CAO. A choice has to be made.

Again, reforms will not only be introduced on the streets but also within the department. And we continue to be optimistic the collaboration with the volunteer groups will continue with more vigor.

We should not allow the detractors to succeed.