Joe Pallugna
THE recent demolition implemented by the RTA at Cogon Market, Cagayan de Oro City, is a very laudable act. It should have been done a long time ago and it should have been on a regular basis.
By regular, I mean every day.
The shooting of RTA officer Cris Cabingas should not have happened if the RTA had been consistent in their demolition of illegal street occupants, in ensuring that no illegal market vendors will ever occupy the streets at any time of the day or night.
I cannot agree to the opinion that these market vendors are just earning a living or making a livelihood to eke out income from the products they sell. These market vendors should not violate the laws and ordinances as these are unfair to those who pay rentals inside the market. These legitimate vendors with stalls inside the market are at a gross disadvantage as less buyers would enter the market because there are illegal vendors already outside occupying the streets.
These illegal vendors also cause greater risk for the pedestrians as they have to walk in the middle of the streets because the vendors already occupy the sidewalks.
And the demolition of the illegal occupants who sell used tires and batteries and car jacks on both sides of the road around Cogon Market should all be permanently driven away. They occupy the sidewalks and arrogated unto themselves the passageway for pedestrians. They should conduct their businesses in the appropriate areas and never on the sidewalks.
Discipline should be the norm and not the lack of discipline. And consistency should be the guiding principle of the RTA so that the people will become accustomed to observing the law. What happened to Cabingas did happen because some people who were used to disobeying the law and were very blatant in their abusive conduct could not take the implementation of the clearing operations by the RTA as a valid act of the authorities. They were offended that the law is being implemented. Thus, it came to the mind to some criminals to exact vengeance on the traffic enforcers and shoot anyone to death just to get even.
To avert any vindictive ideas in the future, the RTA should have more reason now to enforce the city ordinances every day, day and night, from dusk to dawn. There should be no let-up in these efforts.
I understand fully the concerns of Councilor Zaldy Ocon who, as OIC Mayor, demanded that the Mayor’s Office should be informed first of any implementation of demolition operations. But what he demands is only to be informed first. Nothing more. The demolitions should continue and those caught violating the law should be prosecuted to the fullest. This will give the impression to the citizenry that the city government is serious in its efforts to instill discipline and order in our city streets, not only in Cogon Market but everywhere.
The RTA should be lauded and praised in these efforts. Although it cost the life of one of their colleagues, they should be more intent now in enforcing the law. Condolences and financial help should be extended to the Cabingas family. And congratulatory recognition and all-out support should be extended to Atty. Egay Uy and Engr. Nonito Oclarit and their men and women who toil everyday under the heat of the sun and the coldness of the rain just to make sure that our streets are orderly and free from illegal vendors.
For the end, the spirit of discipline will be imprinted in the minds of all and there shall be no shooting anymore.
E-mail: ajpallugna@gmail.com
