I’M GLAD to note that my consistent advocacy on the unkempt and hideous distribution lines, telecommunication cables, and cable TV wires that grotesquely highlight our city right above our very heads has reached the right individuals and the proper authorities. Happier still that the advocacy has expanded because several concerned citizens are now pushing the clearing, bundling, and dismantling of these wires including the unused structures (posts) that conspicuously stand on side streets and junctions.
These distribution/telecommunication/cable TV lines/wires are unsafe, non-compliant with good housekeeping practices, and deface our city. They don’t suit our city environs.
Let me clarify that when we advocate for changes, it merely manifests our deep care for the city and our fellow residents. Who doesn’t, right? So, it’s a disservice if our government leaders become sensitive and worse, defensive, when they hear such critiques. Do not get too defensive that you become offensive and combative. It doesn’t do you any good.
We understand that leadership is a lonely job. It’s true. Why? Because the buck stops with you. But you chose the position so deal with it. There is no amount of sugarcoating what’s missing and lacking. It’s like a rash that continues to itch until the right ointment is applied.
It will be best for government leaders to train your spin masters or web of defenders to use non-defensive communication when responding to comments because by being defensive and argumentative, they appear totally ignorant, lacking finesse, poorly trained, and absolutely incompetent in communication. And that’s a complete shame if not a disaster!
So, breaking the glass wall once again, is the Sangguniang Panlungsod of Tagbilaran drafting a proposed ordinance to clear, bundle, and dismantle these dangling, unsafe, and unkempt distribution/telecommunication/cable TV wires and unused posts? For the executive department, is an executive order coming out soon?
May I refer you to Iloilo City’s Executive Order No. 145 (An Executive Order Reconstituting Iloilo City Task Force Alambre) for guidance. It will be wonderful to receive information from the rightful persons concerning this crucial housekeeping and aesthetics issue.
While on good housekeeping practices, here are some tips for effective housekeeping that our city can embody and implement: 1) Prevent slips, trips, and falls – we should prevent dangling and unbundled wires and rotten posts from victimizing our residents while they either leisurely or hurriedly walk in city streets or drive their vehicles in thoroughfares; 2) Eliminate fire hazards – we should ensure that our lines/wires/cables and transformers are properly maintained to prevent danger and harm on our homes and fellow residents; 3) Prevent falling objects – anything unsafe above our heads should be removed; 4) Declutter – need I say more?; 5) Store materials properly – yes! If they don’t belong in the streets, get rid of them; 6) Create written rules – this is where the appropriate responsive executive order or wholistic ordinance should come in; and 7) Think long-term – yes, “housekeeping shouldn’t be treated as a one-time initiative – it should continue through monitoring and auditing.” The rightful task force, agency, or team should “keep records, maintain a regular walk-through inspection schedule, report hazards, and train employees to help sustain housekeeping.”
All these service providers including water (since water suppliers also dig in city streets – presently, right across our house) should be pulled together to form a task force or group that seeks to harmonize their future plans and work activities – their work outputs should complement and not make the city look uglier than it is with all their dangling, overlapping, and chaotic wire and post installation and digging activities; their clearing and dismantling schedules should be properly coordinated; and any future installation, boring, and related work activities should comply with the master plan.
There. That shouldn’t be rocket science. It’s plain common sense, a decision to commit to safety – for all Tagbilaranons, city visitors, and local and foreign tourists, and a deep concern for the city’s aesthetics. After all, this is the capital city of Bohol – an internationally touted tourism destination – and we all live in it!
Simply put, good housekeeping begins at home.
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The writer hosts Woman Talk with Belinda Sales at 91.1 Balita FM Tagbilaran City every Saturday, 2 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. She can be reached at belindabelsales@gmail.com. Twitter @ShilohRuthie./PN
