Restaurant Obstructing the Sidewalk

If there is one thing I really despise in the Philippines it's all the sidewalk and roadway obstructions.  And here's another one!

Why would they do this?  Who gave them the permit? Who gave them the go ahead?  It makes me so angry because it should not be there. Look at the first picture.  You literally have to either walk in the street or around the back. Most people will be walking in the street like the person in the first picture is doing. Remember when the president himself ordered the clearing of all sidewalk obstructions? And here we are back to zero. 

In Surigao del Norte legislation has been filed to regulate the use of sidewalks. 

https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/10/20/22/surigao-del-norte-lawmaker-wants-govt-to-regulate-sidewalk-use

Surigao del Norte 2nd District Rep. Robert Ace Barbers wants government to regulate the use of sidewalks. 

Under House Bill 1545 that he filed, it is unlawful for anyone to build any edifice, stall and other similar structures, put up any business and other forms of obstruction, leave garbage and other junk materials, and engage in ambulant vending on sidewalks.

Other acts that tend to impede or obstruct the use of sidewalks which are meant to service pedestrians are also prohibited. 

Barbers' proposed measure states that special permits may be issued by authorities for the temporary use of sidewalks for businesses like vulcanizing shops, repair shops, parking spaces, eateries, advertisement spaces, and other similar activities.

Without such a permit, any act that impedes the free movement of people on sidewalks will be deemed unlawful and punishable by a penalty ranging from P 1,000 to P 10,000. 

Any objects blocking the sidewalk will be confiscated by local officials, the bill said. 

City and municipal governments will be in charge of implementing this if it lapses into law. 

"It is of no secret that urban areas have become so congested that people tend to disregard order and do things convenient to them," Barbers said in the bill's explanatory note. 

"Small businesses have used and occupied our sidewalks leaving pedestrians with no choice but to walk by the roadside, thus exposing them to greater risks of bodily injury and even death. Residents who do not have parking spaces in their houses use the streets for their parking lots," the lawmaker noted.

"Our roads are not built for such purposes and the taxpayers have all the right to complain," he said.

It is ridiculous that a bill like this has to be filed but even if it becomes law can the people really count on it being enforced?

Painting the Red Sidewalk Red

These hardworking men are painting the red sidewalk red.

What is the point of this? Its dumb enough that a perfectly good sidewalk was torn up and destroyed with debris laying on the side of the road for months as they glued those faux brick tiles on the smooth concrete.

It's dumb enough that the curb was hand painted with yellow and black stripes using non reflective paint which totally defeats the purpose of the curb being painted so it can be seen at night. At least I think that is the purpose of painting the curb but then why use black? Heck why not use white like these guys:

This whole project of beautifying sidewalks by glueing faux brick tile to the concrete is happening all over town and it makes no sense whatsoever. These sidewalks were perfectly fine. A sidewalk serves a utilitarian purpose of allowing people to walk safely from one destination to another. Unless the sidewalk is in a car-free pedestrian shopping area it makes no sense to embark on a beautification project.

Because this project has taken so long to complete trip hazards were introduced thus making the sidewalks more dangerous.

It's bad enough they created these trip hazards when just a few yards away is the following sight:

Why are those two men painting the red sidewalk red? It's make-work. It serves no purpose except to further whatever scam is taking place here. How would this scam work? Perhaps someone suggests this worthless project and the city agrees to it and then there is overbidding and skimming from the top. It has been almost a year since these projects have begun and they are still not finished. I'm pretty sure it's a scam of some sort. If it's not a scam it is mighty stupid and pointless and the money could have gone to a more needful project somewhere else.