THE flow of vehicular and pedestrian traffic in Bonifacio Monument Circle has tremendously improved after the Caloocan City government completely cleared all eyesores including lawless elements that prey on unsuspecting victims.
Moreover, the entire area, which used to be crowded as traffic rules were openly abused and disobeyed despite the presence of law enforcers, has been spruced up as shown by new concrete fences which are planted with flower-bearing plants all over.
Mayor Oscar “Oca” Malapitan is quick to recognize the efforts made by the local authorities whom he instructed to be in the forefront in the removal of all forms of obstructions, particularly the city’s Department of Public Safety and Traffic Management led by its chief, Larry Castro, and city police chief Sr. Supt. Bernard Tambaoan.
Particularly, Mr. Castro said that the Monumento area and the stretches of Samson Road, J.P. Rizal Avenue Extension, Mac-Arthur Highway and EDSA, have been cleared of illegal vendors especially during daytime which effectively result in the smoother flow of both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
“We are also lauding the cooperation of vendors who are now vending their goods during nighttime in designated places in the area. But of course, as ordered by the mayor, we only make sure that vendors who are city residents are given priority,” the DPSTM chief says.
Though the Malapitan administration has much bigger plan for the make-over of the entire Bonifacio monument, it, however, was not spared by the beautification drive as its steel fences were repainted while more new plants were planted to adorn the circle.
“Mayor Malapitan has grand plan for the monument to restore its status and beauty and at the same time modernize the area without, of course, touching the very monument itself as it is protected by law being a national heritage but we did some works to make it more beautiful,” he says.
More DPSTM personnel are manning the flow of traffic in the area and are ordered not to spare law violators, including those who jay-walk and hard-headed jeepney drivers who still try to pick up and unload passengers in prohibited places in Monumento.
Col. Tambaoan says more policemen are regularly assigned in Monumento area which effectively deter lawless elements from preying on innocent victims especially mall goers and commuters from the nearby LRT stations. Though the Philippine National Police has yet to declare it, Col. Tambaoan believes that the Monumento area may now be removed from its list of hotspot areas where criminal elements proliferate and victimize unwary pedestrians and commuters.
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