FORMER Roads and Traffic Administration (RTA) education head Raul Padua writes: “It has been a year and three months since the Divisoria Traffic project was launched, and I suppose an objective evaluation is due. A survey question to be asked, perhaps, is how the project has affected the traffic situation in the city and is the effect, if any, commensurate vis a vis the resources, specifically, in manpower, poured into it. “The Hapsay Chair has in his GSD column, once lauded the increase in RTA revenue fines generated from jaywalking and illegal parking at Divisoria. But has this improved traffic at the Cogon and Carmen markets, the Osmeña-Recto, Recto-Corrales and other intersections in the city? Has this minimized or eliminated public utility vehicles (PUJs, motorelas, taxis) from picking passengers anywhere and parking abreast while waiting for passengers in no loading and unloading areas? “In all honesty can we say that the Divisoria traffic pilot project is a success? The Hapsay Chair has repeatedly stated that it takes time for the effect of this project to be seen, a fact that I concur with. But surely, a year and three months is too long a time for changes to be felt. With the way things are, no improvement in our traffic is to be expected in the near future – not with the present RTA management set up. I worked with these people for a number of years. I know their mentalities and their capabilities. If local government units were as strict with performance ratings as the national government and if the local chief executives did not lean too much on ‘toadyism,’ these men would not be holding their positions now. “In the June 3 issue of a local tabloid, the Hapsay Chair bewails the lack of traffic enforcers. He claims to have only 130 men to man the city’s traffic (40 of which he uses for his pet project). Again, I agree with the need for additional manpower but this should not be made the reason for poor, dismal performance. A good manager can still perform well given this limitation. There are many resources waiting to be tapped. All it needs is good planning, initiative, persuasiveness and humility to perform well.” Thank you, Raul. I need not add anything. •• Last Thursday afternoon, the traffic light was not functioning. I would have excused the enforcers if traffic would be a mess. But when a vehicle made a turned left from Velez St. toward BDO right in front of enforcers at the Kiosk, the enforcers merely turned their back and may have pretended not to see it or simply didn’t care. Jaywalking is a success in Divisoria? Feel lucky when you jay-walk and you’re not apprehended. It happened and will continue to happen. I witnessed them all. In short, “gana-gana” can happen once in a while. •• I heard that a former lady councilor has called a city hall official an “ignoramus” for having no sense of history. She wanted the National Commission for Culture and Arts to investigate the destruction of the old Gaston Park so NCCA could file a case with the Ombudsman. Another lady is said to be ready for more revelations at the Museo de Oro. Personally, I like the new Gaston Park. I have no knowledge on its heritage value. But since the city government has an office that handles this matter, those who made lapses should answer for it. It’s simple as that. But, of course, I know and we know why Gaston Park was renovated, albeit for the wrong reasons.