Bulaga!

I was casually driving down Pasig Boulevard at the start of the New Year when to my surprise, there was a double roller guard rail at the junction going into C5.

- CITO BELTRAN

The first time I saw them was on Marcos Highway going towards Baguio City a month ago.

It was on that occasion that I learned from Baguio City Mayor Magalong that those double roller guard rails, which look like volleyballs or extra-large pinballs, were on display and trial with the DPWH. These made-inChina items were certainly colorful and designed to deflect a vehicle instead of wrapping around a vehicle in a collision.

The only problem with these double roller balls is the discovery made by Mayor Magalong regarding the price. From China to Manila, the per unit cost was $225, about P20,000. But based on a misplaced document called the DUPA or Detailed Unit Price Analysis that was “For Your Eyes Only,” the contractor price would end up at P121,330 per unit. (Pls. read Ctalk Dec.6,2024)

No wonder the DPWH needed more money than the education of Filipino children.

Speaking of “bulaga!” or surprise attacks, more and more motorists are falling victim to the unmarked, nonreflectorized, road hazards that are on EDSA and C5 used as lane dividers for bicycles. These lane dividers are approximately a foot and a half or more, made of concrete and are covered with dust or vehicle emission and are the same color as the concrete highway.

You can see them along C5 southbound after Lanuza St. or EDSA northbound just before Kalayaan avenue. Because they are not so visible and are unmarked with no warning sign, I had to check two or three times where they exactly were. Because they are below tire height of cars, drivers don’t have an idea unless they see the barriers from a distance.