Estrada bucks Metro car-less day plan

President Estrada thumbed down yesterday the plan to impose a once-a-week car-less day in Metro Manila and directed the Metro Manila Development Authority to drop all discussions about the idea.

The president told MMDA chairman Jejomar Binay "not to implement any car-less day scheme and desist from further holding public discussions on this proposal."

In a series of directives, announced by Presidential Spokesman Fernando Barican, the President also:

* Ordered the MMDA to cancel the existing Saturday odd-even vehicle reduction program in Metro Manila, noting that "it is the day when salaried workers and employees, aside from the general public, can attend to their personal chores" using their vehicles;

* Directed the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) to investigate complaints of poor services by cellular phone subscribers and the exhorbitant charges allegedly imposed by cellular phone companies;

* Ordered national and local officials concerned to ban pedicabs and tricycles from national roads and highways as they are considered "traffic hazards;"

* Directed the Land Transportation Office (LTO) to arrest all "colorum" buses and other public utility vehicles, especially those plying the EDSA, Sta. Mesa and Cubao routes;

* Ordered national and local government officials to arrest drivers and owners of smoke-belching vehicles, both public and private, in line with the implementation of the Clean Air Act of 1999;

* Directed Public Works and Highways Secretary Gregorio Vigilar to clear all clogged canals, drainage and sewerage systems in Metro Manila before the rainy season arrives.

Prior to the President's order, at the MMDA where a public hearing on the car-less day proposal was held, representatives from transport groups, non-government organizations, Philippine Motor Association (PMA) and Metro Manila Bus Operators Association expressed opposition to the plan which they branded as "unrealistic."

PMA director Delfin Justiniano explained that the scheme cannot possibly be implemented considering the present state of the public transport system in Metro Manila.

He noted that public transportation in place right now is inadequate to serve the needs of commuters.

"As far as economically possible, people should be free to travel by whatever means they choose and public transport should aim to produce quality service that makes it a realistic alternative to car use," Justiniano said.

He added that vehicle owners "do not deserve the punishment of a motor vehicle--less day for the failure of government's road programs and public transports."

Binay explained previously that the car-less scheme is meant to reduce or eliminate air pollution in Metro Manila.

Ernesto Camarillo, MMDA executive director for traffic also reiterated at the hearing that the scheme covered not only private but public vehicles.

Other groups in attendance such as the Citizen's Emergency Network for their part blamed the MMDA's ineffectiveness in apprehending smoke-belching public utility vehicles which are the major causes of air pollution in the metropolis. -- Marichu Villanueva and Marvin Sy