Dealing with accreditations

For three days, I took time off from my job to work on other things that needed dealings with government offices. It was the usual process -waiting and paying, paying and waiting. If I had my way I would wish I could do all those things online. It would not be a hassle if all government agencies had online portals. With just one click, we can do all the transactions. That way, it saves us all time and energy. Sadly though, we haven’t reached that level development. However, I do commend other offices that have moved forward to do such.

We have to admit that dealing with accreditations is such a hassle. Maybe that’s the logic behind the driver who allegedly said he owned the van that drove the doctors and nurses to Alegria over the weekend.

The van figured in a very tragic accident, and seven people who were just in Cebu for the festivities got killed. They wanted to see south Cebu on their own, and enjoy what we have to offer. The driver said he hadn’t slept for four days. Wow. Four days.

Any human being in his sane mind would not sacrifice sleep for any amount of money -even if it would be that big. Look at the consequences if one would exchange sleep for a couple of bucks.

Apparently, that’s what happened. Due to the demand of the season and the urge to have money, the accidents happened.

That’s why the government, as much as possible, wants to interfere with all businesses to assure that there is safety. With an accreditation from the Department of Tourism, LTFRB, and the tour operators in Cebu, the visitors are assured that they are secured. Why? These agencies make sure the vehicles the tourists ride in are roadworthy and that there are enough drivers for a day’s shift. In exchange, the operators pay more but paying is worth the lives they get to keep.

It is true that the incident is a wakeup call for everybody to make sure they book their trips only with those who are legitimate operators. Meaning those that have the stickers that are given after they have received government accreditation. It may be a bit pricier than those that are colorum but the trip will be worth it, trust me. The agencies are doing their best to ensure the visitors that they get the best experience in Cebu.

I do hope that what happened is just an isolated case, that nobody will follow the driver’s footsteps. The DOT has assured us that the tours will not stop but we cannot stop those who are in fear now to come and visit Cebu. I know that we can assure them that it won’t happen again but even we Cebuanos should take being careful seriously. Let us hope that somehow, we will all learn from this tragic experience and understand the government’s role in taking accreditation. Just don’t mind the hassle.