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Egay Uy . 

AT about 11:30 before noontime of Jan. 3, 2019, along Corrales Avenue, this city, I chanced upon a person who wore a uniform of a franchise-based convenience store forcing garbage into the drainage opening by the side of the road. I took a video footage of the person and told him “Bawal na, bai.  Kinsay nagsugo nimo nga diha ibutang ang basura?”

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The person replied that he was merely draining water from a garbage bag into the opening. The video footage I took however belies the claim.

This is just one example of the need to change the people’s behavior towards certain public concerns. If the person caught unloading his garbage into the drain is but a reflection of many similar wrongdoings, I don’t know what will become of our city.

People are quick to blame the government for these wrongdoings.  Instead of immediately pointing fingers to government, we have to re-assess our own behavior and be part of the solution rather than add to the problem. It is easy, of course, to just blame somebody, a whipping boy like the government.

I know it is not uncommon for others to see some others throw their garbage just anywhere. After the New Year celebration, photos of piles of garbage found their way to where else, Facebook. The government again got the blame. And this is true not only in our City but probably nationwide. I have seen similar photos of how people that converged in the Luneta Park practically littered the area with garbage.

Traffic signs are mere suggestions, observers have said.  And this is because the behavior of drivers still leaves much to be desired.  And who gets the blame?  You guessed it right.  Remember the motorist who parked his car on the side of the road where a “No Parking” sign was standing?  And even asked a traffic enforcer, “Bai, pwede mo parking dinhi?”

Why are all these, and many many more, are happening?  The answer is simple. Because people lack respect for others. “Bahalag ma porwesyo mo basta segurado kos ako” seems to be norm for those who, ironically probably are quick to blame the government or others for their wrongdoings.

As I often said when I was in the traffic office, we were attempting to change the behavior of road users.

You want real change?  Look into the mirror first.

(Egay Uy is a lawyer. He chairs the City’s Regulatory and Complaint Board, co-chairs with the city mayor the City Price Coordinating Council, and chairs the city’s Joint Inspection Team.  He retired as a vice president of Cepalco.)

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