2019

TRAFFIC, How it can

affects to our daily life
8 Genius Solutions to Metro Manila's Traffic
Problems
 In Metro Manila, everything is beautiful and true. So it has been since the beginning of time, and so it
shall be until the end. The traffic problems of recent months are a mere hiccup in our otherwise idyllic
existence. And true to form, our noble leaders in government have been quick to propose solutions to
our problems, solutions so simple and so obvious that we are left stunned at their genius.

1. Reviving the Odd-Even Scheme

Our own president, ever concerned with our welfare, leads the pack by suggesting that we bring
back the odd-even scheme of the late '90s. And what a wondrous idea it is, too. Imagine half the
vehicles in the city gone for a day. Why, you could zip through EDSA in half an hour. If people don't
end up buying more cars, that is it.
 

 
 2. Adding to the buses on EDSA
Oh, but the LTFRB isn’t far behind. Winston Ginez, the intrepid chairperson, believes that Metro
Manila commuters need more buses. After all, one report says there are only 1,500 buses plying the
central artery. The bureau’s records also say there are 3,385 buses, but who cares? What matters is that
the chairperson cares.
 

 
3. Build a subway system
Meanwhile, the DPWH wants to go underground. And why not?! The Dream Plan 2030 is a project by
the DPWH, the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), and the Japan International
Cooperation Agency (JICA), and it includes two heavy mass transit lines that will connect Regions III,
IV-A, and the NCR. Now, is that not wonderful? On the other hand, we must all wait—in heavy traffic,
to boot—until 2030 for this dream to come true. Fortunately, Filipinos are a very patient people. Dig
we must, for an even better Metro Manila.

 
 4. Build an elevated EDSA
However, before planning to go down, the government initially planned on building a skyway to the
heavens. This was an idea proposed in 2011, involving Official Development Assistance (ODA) and
also JICA, and would have cost around P50 billion. But the government—in its infinite wisdom, of
course—shelved the project. It’s quite sad, because otherwise we would have become a utopia on many
levels. Quite literally. As of now.. we need to suffer for a while. And wait for the government’s project.
BUILD… BUILD… BUILD…
 
 5. Relocate government agencies outside the capital
Thank Alan Peter Cayetano, senator and majority leader, for this brilliant idea. After all, moving these
departments to various provinces will definitely decongest the Metro. What’s more, they will certainly
bring more development to rural areas. And with our lightning-fast telecom networks, inter-departmental
cooperation should be a walk in the park.
 

6. Ban cars with fewer than three passengers

Our forward-thinking DPWH is considering providing alternative routes for cars with fewer than three
passengers during rush hour. Public Works Sec. Rogelio Singson proposes that peak hours should be set at 7 a.m.
to 10 a.m, then 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., and only those vehicles with three passengers or more will be allowed on
EDSA. Cars with less than three passengers will then be rerouted elsewhere. This plan’s effectiveness remains to
be seen, but Metro Manila’s citizens are assured that the agency will propose these alternative routes with its
usual speed and efficiency.
9:32 AM - Aug 26, 2015Manila City, National Capital Region 
 7. No Parking Space, No Car Policy
Senator Win Gatchalian has refiled a bill seeking to implement a “no parking space, no car
policy” in Metro Manila. Gatchalian said Senate Bill No. 368, otherwise known as the ‘Proof-Of-
Parking Space Act,’ would require prospective buyers of motor vehicles to present a notarized
affidavit showing that they have a permanent parking space or facility for their vehicles before they
could purchase one. The affidavit shall also be a pre-requisite for the registration of their
vehicles. Each and every motor vehicle shall require a separate parking space for parking.
According to Gatchalian, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) shall file the affidavit for future
reference and use it as evidence against motor vehicle owners who lied about having a parking space or
facility for their vehicles.

“Motor vehicle owners should be made responsible to provide a permanent parking space for their
private vehicles. The street is primarily intended for vehicular or foot traffic and should not be
appropriated as personal parking spaces for vehicles,” Gatchalian said.Under the proposed measure,
any individual may report to the LTO, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) or
the engineering office of the concerned local government unit (LGU) any motor vehicle that
is illegally parked on streets, alleys, or pathways primarily used by pedestrians and for motor vehicle
traffic. Gatchalian said motor vehicle owners who made untrue claims in their affidavit shall
be slapped with a P50,000 fine for every violation of the provisions of under SBN 368. They shall also
be suspended from registering a motor vehicle under their names for three years, while their current
motor vehicle registration would be confiscated. On the other hand, LTO employees who allow the
registration of a motor vehicle without the required documents or have knowledge in the falsification of
an affidavit attesting the availability of a permanent parking space shall be suspended from office
without pay for three months.The bill was first filed by Gatchalian during the 17th Congress on June
30, 2016, as Senate Bill No. 201

8. Provincial Bus Ban on EDSA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday suspended the dry run of the
agency’s ban on provincial buses going through EDSA. MMDA general manager Jose Garcia said
while provincial buses would still be allowed to go through EDSA, they are barred from picking up or
dropping off passengers along Metro Manila’s longest highway.  During the dry run, which started on
April 22, provincial buses are supposed to pick up or drop off passengers only at terminals in Sta. Rosa,
Laguna, the Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange or Malinta, Valenzuela. The dry run sought to
test if the policy would be effective in easing traffic congestion in the metropolis. The MMDA would
not want the policy to be “politicized” due to the upcoming election on Monday, Garcia said. The
policy – which bans provincial buses and their terminals from EDSA – would “still be ironed out” by
the MMDA, the Department of Transportation and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory
Board, he added. The Metro Manila Council, the MMDA’s policy-making body, previously approved
Resolution 19-002, which mandates the cancellation of business permits of provincial bus terminals
situated along EDSA. The agency’s target is for all provincial bus terminals along EDSA to be closed
by next month. The policy, however, was challenged by the Ako Bicol party-list group, which is
seeking reelection, before the Supreme Court last week. The group asked for the policy to be
suspended, claiming it inconvenienced commuters who travel to and from the province.

This time, we need to cooperate in what the government do. Because they do all this for us to make our
daily life be more easy and simply.

Resources:

http://www.mmda.gov.ph.

https://www.gmanetwork.com