Ideas for new laws, ordinances and projects

**media[15845]**HOTSPOTWith Congress, city councils and provincial boards set to resume their lawmaking, and executive officials executing what needs to be executed, here are some ideas that could improve people’s lives one step at a time:Investigate, phase-out and eliminate sub-meters. Government should monitor how landlords bill their tenants for electricity and water, and punish those who overcharge. Perhaps a solution would be to encourage landlords to switch their rental units to prepaid electricity service.Free Beep cards for workers and employeesGovernment should lead the way by providing free Beep cards to state employees and all state scholars (students of state colleges and universities, with student discount) in Metro Manila, and urge private businesses to do the same for their workers as a non-wage benefit. This could help eliminate long lines in train stations. Of course, it would be up to the workers to load up their cards.DOTr, Offices of Senior Citizen Affairs, and Persons with Disabilities Affairs Offices should coordinate to make it easy, fast, and free to get Beep cards for seniors and PWDs. Huwag na po silang pahirapan. Close down more major thoroughfares on SundaysThis would promote exercise (running, walking and related sports events) and help improve the physical and mental well-being of people, as well as encourage foot traffic to commercial establishments and spur entrepreneurship. Baguio, Makati and Quezon City have done this.Expand the EDSA BuswayThe Department of Transportation should end the disrespect to commuters by ending the overlooking of Cubao in the EDSA Busway station map. Being the transport center of the metropolis, there’s no excuse not to have a station in Cubao. Maybe ban private vehicles from using Cubao Ibabaw and make Cubao Ibabaw exclusive for the EDSA Busway buses. PUVs should take precedence over private cars in the allotment of space in Cubao.Consumer Welfare Action Centers The Department of Trade and Industry should set up kiosks in major malls to receive and process complaints. There could be days when the DTI could partner with the National Telecommunications Commission for complaints on telco services and products.More health centersI guess we always underestimate the sheer size of our land area and population. The more health centers, the better to cover Metro Manila and the rest of the country’s population with preventive care, free immunizations and vaccinations, pre- and post-natal care, free medicines, early detection of diseases etc. The Department of Health and local governments could agree to standardize schedules on a nationwide scale so everyone knows what day to go to for certain matters.Reclaim the sidewalksWith the exception of sidewalks near or around public markets (some of which have become privatized) to accommodate small-time street vendors, local governments should ban sidewalk parking. The sidewalks should be returned to the people, to encourage safe walking. Business should provide parking space for their patrons and not be allowed to steal or deprive sidewalk access to the public.Public veterinary clinicsWe can be certain that this is something that most Filipinos would wholeheartedly support. Our pet-loving population should have free or affordable options in their city or municipality to get access to veterinary medicine services. The UP Veterinary Teaching Hospitals are a good, shining example. But we need more.Promote and expand the public librariesFree and fast internet, airconditioning, more seats, free charging, free use of devices, and events with Filipino authors should make more Filipinos (especially the young people) opt to go back to public libraries, get into reading, work and write there, and build communities of readers.Prefer and promote Philippine coffeesThis could be a challenge for coffee brewers and coffee producers at the start, but serving Philippine coffees in all national government agencies and Philippine state events, gifts to foreign leaders, etc. complete with branding would be a powerful way to drive consumption and promotion. Entrepreneurs and the public are doing their part, so maybe it is time to see government do theirs as well.Philippine flags and Philippine mapsGovernment should promote the hanging and flying of Philippine flags in homes, offices, stores, restaurants, and buildings. Flags should be provided for free or at a minimal cost. We also would like to see in as many places copies of the Philippine national map showing our complete territory and exclusive economic zone in all their glory: Benham Rise, West Philippine Sea, and all the islands west of our archipelago.How about you? Got any ideas?