Readers’ suggestions on traffic woes

The traffic problem in Metro Manila, as likely in other urban centers in the Philippines, never fails to elicit a barrage of suggestions from our readers. Once again, this column shares with others these ideas. More importantly, hopefully the country’s leaders are able to gain something from them.

This one is from Rene Moral, one of our more conscientious readers over the years. Please read on.

“Here are other measures to mitigate chaos in our streets in addition to what you wrote:

1. Identify all intersections that become bottlenecks especially during peak hours.

2. Assign well trained traffic personnel in these intersections.

3. Install CCTV (close circuit television) cameras to monitor if assigned traffic personnel are on the job or have abandoned their post.

4. Provide traffic personnel with communication equipment.

5. Provide traffic personnel with raincoats and rainboots so they have no reason to abandon their posts during a downpour when traffic grinds to a halt.

6. Apprehend and impound colorum buses along EDSA.

7. Ban trucks from EDSA and C5 from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

8. Strictly enforce the loading and no loading rule which public transport drivers merely ignore.”

Efficient, convenient and safe

Another reader, Marlon Mangalus, sent his “one-cent” worth. Here goes:

“I’m an OFW (overseas Filipino worker) in Singapore. I just envy how efficient, convenient, and safe their public transport is there. Imagine a seven-year-old child taking the public transport unaccompanied. Or of the seamless travel from airport to your home.

“Efficient, convenient, and safe are three parameters that will make our public transport effective, or will make the middle class (car owners) to leave their cars, thus lessening the traffic.

“Efficiency means having reliable, fast, and timely transportation. In the Philippines, our public transport (system) fails miserably, especially with regards PUJs [public utility jeepneys). Unless we can have a good MRT/LRT (metro rail transit/light rail transit) system, or do a BRT (bus rapid transit) system and phase out PUJs on main roads all over metro, we will not have an efficient public transport.

“After having an efficient transport, next should be convenience. There is a need for infrastructure facilities to complement the public transport – from well-paved and well-lit sidewalks, to bus stops, to the MRT? When there is heavy downpour, or on hot humid days, commuters should be protected from the environment. This is another failure of our public transport system.

“Being safe means having a significant number of our PUJ and PUB [public utility buses] as roadworthy, not to mention reducing the presence of petty criminals on our streets. Fortunately, the new administration is taking steps versus criminality and drugs. But we, especially parents, are still worried if our children can go back home safely.

“These are the things that our commuters brave every single day, and our past government and LGUs failed us miserably. Until these three parameters are met, traffic in Metro Manila will always be around, and car sales will just go up even with the tax slap. Safety, convenience, and efficiency are of primary concern.

“It will take so much political will to do it. I hope the current administration will deliver.”

On taxing vehicles

Another reader, Ibrahim Halakhalak, shares his views on the proposed taxes that our government bureaucrats are seriously considering, not just to offset the expected losses in state revenues by lowering personal income taxes, but also to reduce the number of vehicles on the road. Here is what he has to say:

“It seems like there is no workable idea with regards the traffic problem in Metro Manila. As you and everybody else mentioned, taxation on new vehicles will be the answer. Fair enough, but will that solve the current problem?

“Enforcers are even incapable of enforcing simple rules like smoke-belching, jaywalking and no loading/unloading. (The same goes for) illegal parking and illegal stalls in the middle of the streets.

“Further taxation on the already overpriced local vehicles will only hurt people that really makes our country work – and that is the middle class and the ones aspiring very hard to be one. Plus newer vehicles are much more green and better for the environment. Let’s also mention it adds growth to the economy.

“Most politicians and so-called experts always turn a blind eye on the elephant in the room, and that is the squatter problem in the metropolis. First off, it is highly doubtful our countrymen from rural areas came to Metro Manila dreaming of living in squalid conditions, endangering the safety of their children, and living in unsafe structures.

The squatters are also out and out economic sabotage. They stun the growth of the areas where they mushroom. They are also a cause of major traffic in most thoroughfares, if you care to look into it. With just a little bit of creativity, this government can provide temporary housing to squatters along existing infrastructures to ease gridlocks and promote real economic growth to our country.

“The so called new ideas are without planning and potential impending disasters. I think the approach of our policy makers should always be how to make situations win-win, and not always at the expense of another segment.”

Sorry state of shipping

And lastly, decrying the sad state of Philippine shipping, David Dowling, another reader from Misamis Oriental, wrote:

“I enjoyed your article in The Philippine Star of Aug. 18, about the sorry state of the shipping industry. I completely agree with you.

“My son-in-law, 30 years old, with a wife a two children, is working on a ship plying out of Cebu harbor. He is classified as an apprentice even though he has experience on a RoRo (roll-on roll-off) vessel. He is given an allowance of P500 only per month. Is this slave labor or not? Please expose this shocking situation.

“I am an Australian who has worked on ship construction and repair. The life of any ship over 25 years has to be scrapped because of rust and corrosion.”

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Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.