My blog post yesterday on the first Quezon City International Marathon (QCIM) elicited a feedback from one person I know. Pablo "Pabs" Yambot, an avid runner and marathon veteran, posted this on my Facebook account:
Regnard, to be fair- don't blame the organizers. They rely on the local government, police, traffic enforcers, etc- to reroute traffic, advice commuters (private & public transportation). I'm sure the 1st Milo Marathon 33 years ago was cursed as badly but it's now one of the longest running marathons in Asia. Instead of cursing the marathon- wouldn't you look to traffic management and the media for not controlling traffic and informing QC residents better?Pabs makes an good point about the accountability of the Quezon City local government in managing the traffic and informing the public effectively about the traffic congestion the marathon will produce. After reading an article from ABS-CBN News about the massive traffic jam the marathon caused, I'm more convinced that the Quezon City government failed big time in the information campaign.
A lot of great cities in the world block off significant portions of their streets on Sundays for a lot of good reasons. I suppose a lot of drivers cursed UP when it closed down the Academic Oval to vehicular traffic that first Sunday. It's now teeming with runners, cyclists, walkers, strollers; serious athletes in training, casual joggers to whole families. Cars- private transportation, are a necessary evil in a crowded metropolis without a very efficient mass transit system. One Sunday's inconvenience should help people figure out how to live without cars, even for just a morning.
None other Quezon City mayor Sonny Belmonte made a comment that irked me a lot. He gave a condescending advice to the people who were affected by the traffic jam:
Read the newspapers and listen to the radio so you’ll be informed of events like this. This has been planned since last year.Wow. Mayor Belmonte is washing his hands of any accountability and has gone as far as blaming the ignorance of the thousands of motorists and commuters for getting stuck in traffic. Let's put it this way Mayor Belmonte: It's your city government's job to reach the relevant people about the effects of your plan. You could have placed several advisories on the road where people can plan ahead.
Here's my advice to Mayor Sonny Belmonte: If you had utilized the areas where you and other Quezon City officials/wannabes place your "campaign" posters, then maybe the people could have been better informed about the traffic advisory on the traffic jam due to the QCIM.
Tags: Quezon City International Marathon
