The lights or the cops?

The Inter-Parliamentary Union has started Monday but ever since Sunday, cops have been around the Cultural Center of the Philippines Complex for the re-routing of traffic flow as well as making sure of the delegates' safety.

Since my office is within the CCP Complex, I need to cross Roxas Boulevard in order to travel from my house going to work and vice versa. Crossing Roxas Boulevard has never been difficult except when the traffic lights at the intersection of Roxas Boulevard and Vito Cruz are not functioning properly.

I was expecting the same ease when crossing Roxas Boulevard until the Metro Manila Development Authority and the Philippine National Police took over the streets in order to direct the traffic flow.

You see, they all have forgotten that there are still pedestrians who need to cross the streets. They seemed to be so concerned too much with the dignitaries that they don't even bother to let the pedestrians cross the streets first before letting the flow of the traffic to continue (even as against what the traffic lights would indicate). What I mean is, if the MMDA and the PNP opt to use their officers to direct the traffic, then they should turn off the traffic lights and save some electricity; and if they would rather use the traffic lights, then make these officers respect the lights at the very least.

It is good that the delegates of the IPU be given high regard as they represent the leadership of other nations. However, it is not acceptable that the regard given them compromises the safety of any human being.

The MMDA and PNP should know this. But then again, I never expected them to know anything either. They wouldn't be doing what they are doing if they were intelligent anyway.