Ongoing is the construction of the Banilad-Talamban flyover, the third flyover in that stretch of road that begins at Gorordo Ave.

The target month of completion is around July. Meanwhile, traffic is from painstakingly slow to standstill. Slow traffic, in fact, was the reason why City Hall gave the go-ahead to construct the flyover. And when Mayor Osmeña says, "Go," it’s a go no matter what others may say.

While the construction was being mulled, businessmen were already saying the flyover might kill or hinder their businesses. They suggested instead that the road be widened. It would be cheaper and businesses would not be affected.

While this article will not dwell on the merits (or demerits) of a flyover or road-widening, the construction does point out poor urban planning by City Hall. It’s more of a gut reaction to the sudden pains of a growing city.

Whether the flyover will ease out traffic or not is not the point. When the local government is reactive, this means future problems are not foreseen. When this is the way things are run, there will come a time when an accumulation of problems will present itself as unsolvable. When this happens, the ones who will suffer will be the constituents.

Then, like all politicians, those presently in charge of government will merely lose the next election and pass the problem and blame to the next leader.