An extensive mass transportation system

The DOTC has cancelled the controversial Northrail contract with its current contractor, citing the discovery that they have no experience whatsoever in building the infrastructure of this magnitude. The contract was put on hold last year, citing anomalies and questionable provisions in the contract. I guess the discovery of their lack of experience has killed the contract. Why this contractor was chosen among so many others who I’m sure have the necessary experience, only the past administration knows, and probably benefited from! The Northrail will be hopefully bid out to a more capable contractor.

The Northrail was supposed to connect the Metro with the Clark International Airport, to decongest the existing airport terminals in Metro Manila. NAIA Terminal 1 has become the symbol of everything negative, from being the worst in Asia to the one of the worst in the world! Something that definitely does not work well with the Department of Tourism’s current campaign of “It’s more fun in the Philippines.” A renovation of the old, historic terminal is in the pipeline, so an alternative airport was imperative. For now, people will have to drive to and from Clark if they wish to embark or disembark from there. A high-speed train would have been so welcome indeed.

Another project up for bidding but was also put on hold is the expansion of the current LRT-1 line. This was the first LRT line of the country, and it is definitely showing its age. A rehabilitation along with an extension of the line to Cavite is in the offing, providing more people with more ways to get from point A to B. And that is exactly what the thrust of the DOTC is today, that we should move people, and not vehicles.

Vehicle sales, whether cars or motorcycles, have increased through the years. But the problem is there aren’t enough roads being built or widened to accommodate such an increase. Hence the monstrous traffic jams we learn to cope and live with everyday! The solution is a vast network of public transportation such as trains or subways. Every major developed city has its own system of trains that run over, alongside and under the traffic of the city. The systems are so extensive, one does not really need a car anymore to get around! If the Philippines had such a system like that of Hong Kong or Singapore, we could do away with a lot of other means of transportation like buses, jeepneys and even tricycles. Decongestion is the key to the traffic problem.

Right now, we have a basic railway system of three trains that interconnect. But a large part of the city is still not being serviced by these trains. Not even the airport, which would have worked wonders for tourists! There are plans to increase the number of cars, and to extend the routes to farther places. All well and good. But it has to be done. At the very least, within this administration.

We are also forgetting that we have a river that meanders within a large area of the metro. It has to be utilized as well, much like what Thailand does. But first, we have to get rid of the stench! Achieve that, and we have another EDSA for boats. It is doable. We just have to do it. An extensive mass transportation system is the key to progress. It always has been.