I HAVE always wondered why two national government agencies do not seem to see eye to eye as regards their respective mandates.
One government office sees to it that all motor vehicles plying public roads, streets, highways, and the like, should be roadworthy otherwise registration will be denied. But the other does not ensure that roads are vehicle worthy.
In an earlier column, I described the city as apparently becoming an archeological site because of road diggings and excavations that appear to have either been abandoned, unfinished, or the budget has run out.
Road diggings and excavations are all over the city and the traffic situation has worsened that probably even the most dedicated traffic aide could no longer do anything. It is therefore imperative that the RTA look into this with resolve and dispatch.
Penalize those contractors that do not meet their deadlines.
_o0o_
When the USAID HealthReach Team thru Dr. Amie Gabayani gathered the cluster heads of the City's Emergency Operation Center, I had the chance to review EO No. 7 issued by Malacañang last year easing up the use of face masks even in indoor settings.
This EO has been a most welcome note, especially to those who do not believe in the severity of the effects of Covid-19. But compliance with EO 7 has itself become too loose that passengers and drivers of public utility vehicles may have forgotten that face masks are still required in public transportation of all kinds - land, sea, and air.
A few hours before this writing, I talked with RTA head Nits Oclarit and RTA Enforcement Unit head Cider Paasa and we agreed to conduct a special operation with the LTFRB against those who do not wear face masks when on board PUVs.
The Covid-19 virus is still very much around. It's unwise to put our guard down.
