One can’t say that the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority post Bayani Fernando, who is now running for vice president of the country, lacks for zany, brilliant, or stupid (take your pick) ideas.

Remember the blue sign on pink background (or is that pink sign on blue background?) with the message: “Bawal Tumawid Dito: Nakamamatay” or “Bawal ang Tao Dito: Nakamamatay”?

For those unfamiliar with the Philippine National Language, the signs roughly translate to “Don’t Cross Here: Can Be Fatal” or “People Banned Here: Can be Fatal.”

Please don’t be too critical of the translation; it was made by someone who made it through elementary, high school, and college with the minimum passing grade for all Pilipino subjects.

Well, according to our reporter on the MMDA beat, the signs will soon be replaced with the message: “Bawal Tumawid Dito, May Namatay Na.” Rough translation: “Don’t Cross Here: A stupid and illiterate pedestrian who ignored warnings was run over by a truck with lost brakes and died while crossing here already.” The signs won’t be in pink on blue or blue on pink, but in red, white, and black.

The change in color and the message should be taken to mean that the MMDA is serious about putting a stop to jaywalking which some people believe should be deemed a crime punishable by death.

The signs, according to the MMDA, are aimed at recalcitrant jaywalkers in our midst who daily play a deadly game of patintero with motor vehicles on the road.

The MMDA says 50 of the new signs will soon decorate “critical” or “accident-prone” areas and intersections in the metropolis.

It didn’t say, however, that the signs will be placed in areas that already have actually recorded a pedestrian fatality.

Some would say the red, black, and white signs would prove as useless as the pink and blue signs they are replacing.

The old signs were good a few laughs until the joke got old. People still crossed the street right in front of the signs. Still, the post-BF MMDA should be commended for at least trying. The MMDA leadership did say it will go after jaywalkers and penalize them.

Come to think about it, catching and penalizing jaywalkers, with fines, a stint in jail or as has been done in the past, in cages built at intersections, is the only effective way to instill discipline among pedestrians. But this should be done on a strict and daily basis.

Funny signs won’t do it.