Traffic: A challenge to bureaucracy, community

Bencyrus Ellorin

LAST week, Xavier University hosted the Cagayan de Oro City public transport summit.

The event was timely as moving from point A to B in the city has become grueling.

While it is easy and convenient to blame government, the local government to be specific for the problem, there are certain assumptions that everyone should contend with.

1. Traffic problem is not exclusive to CDO, but is a common problem in urban areas in the whole wide universe.
2. Traffic problem is two-way, literally and figuratively. It involves all people using the streets, whether one is on foot or on the wheel, or even just in front of the computer – as a keyboard warrior.
3. Government is mandated to ensure free movement of people and goods.
4. People have split personalities on the street. If he or she is stuck on the road, he or she would curse the heavy traffic. If he or she is riding a jeepney or hailing one, he or she expects to be picked up or dropped pronto. We curse the number of cars running the streets. But given a chance, we buy cars, contributing our inch in the carmageddon.

But there has to be a solution somewhere.

Invited as resource person in last week’s summit was Cagayan de Oro’s own, Dr. Ma. Shellah Nagpalong, director of  the University of the Philippines Center for Transportation Studies. Her general assessment of the traffic situation: traffic problem is a cause of serious concern.

Mayor Oscar Moreno admitted the traffic problem. He said solving it is necessary to make the city livable and competitive. The mayor also talked of shared responsibility in solving the problem. For him, the value of having multisectoral community gatherings is co-ownership of the solutions.

Key City Hall officers were on hand to attend the summit — to listen and to share ideas. Bashing whoever was inevitable. Some are contented with it. Taking on the mike at the first opportunity and after a minute or so of grandstanding, some self-proclaimed experts disappeared from the venue.

As a public service, solving the traffic problem is a challenge to the bureaucracy.

Most critics of government appear to be ignorant or at least misinformed on the how government units work. Government organizations generally have two aspects: the civil service, often called bureaucracy, and the elected officials.

But bureaucracy involves both the civil servants and the elected officials. Bureaucracy is a system in government where most of the important decisions are made by civil servants rather than elected officials.

I have observed Mayor Moreno’s leadership and appreciate how he wants all aspects of governance to work. As the primus inter pares at City Hall, he provides clear political directions. He does not micro manage but is very strict in taking to account heads of City Hall offices so they would deliver.

Perhaps, acknowledging the limitations of government, Mayor Moreno is the kind of leader who would gladly involve the community in decision making. In the drug war, for example, he wants everyone involved. And now the traffic problem, he wants the community to co-own the solution.

But make no mistake about it, his orders for the RTA and other City Hall offices on traffic is clear. Make moving around the city convenient.

The new overseer of the Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA), a proven problem solver, retired colonel Verneer Monsanto already has his hands full to address the problems like obstructions, to clearing Cogon Market, to correcting wrong road signs. Perhaps the pain in the head at the RTA is the faulty signaling system or traffic lights. Legal rigmarole with the inherited supplier is delaying things.

With the problem clearly understood, the political direction and leadership defined and unequivocal, solving the traffic problem is now a challenge to the local bureaucracy and the community at large.

Finally, don’t mind those who are quick to blame Oca for everything. Understandably, they have not moved on yet from the ways of the former local kingpin who micromanages everything and wants to be credited for everything.