THE traffic situation in Metro Manila is getting out of hand. No wonder we got the ignoble distinction of having the fifth worst traffic in the world. We cannot allow the problem to worsen. We know that the government is doing something to provide long-term solutions. But we also need effective short-term strategies that will shorten travel time or improve road-transport speed. The sooner we can do this, the better.
Some quarters say that our current traffic nightmare is a manifestation of inadequate urban planning, and we fully agree. Others point to the rapid growth of car ownership; that vehicles in Metro Manila, motorcycles included, are now too many to manage. As a result, parking in the metropolis has been a growing pain. In case our traffic managers miss this one, here’s a friendly reminder: Metro Manila roads have practically become parking lots for private cars and motorcycles.
We don’t want to play the blame game this time. That’s why we offer this space to volunteer practical solutions that could help ease the flow of traffic in Metro Manila:
Maximize road usage. Remove things that impede traffic in all Metro Manila roads, including all private cars, tricycles and motorbikes; illegally constructed eateries; basketball courts; and others. The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority can use its closed-circuit television cameras not only to improve traffic monitoring, but also to monitor car owners who use the roads as their parking lot.
Immediately address everything that disrupts the flow of traffic, especially during rush hours, including stalled vehicles, minor accidents and the like.
- Apprehend all misbehaving drivers. These people can turn our roads into a virtual parking lot.
- Don’t allow tricycles in major roads like Edsa.
- Arrest jaywalkers, they can block traffic flow.
- Improve our bike lanes to encourage people to use bicycles and reduce pollution.
- Assign (but supervise) counterflow lanes where appropriate.
- Build (and supervise) loading and unloading bay for public-utility vehicles (PUVs).
- Apprehend PUVs loading or unloading in nondesignated areas.
- Set the computerized traffic lights to manual in the mornings, and set them back to automatic later.
These are just examples of short-term practical solutions that can help ease the flow of traffic in Metro Manila. By clearing roadblocks, we can improve traffic flow. We know that a more concrete long-term solution is needed, like adopting an efficient mass-transport system that can carry more people in and around the metropolis.
We have to mention that our people’s lack of discipline greatly exacerbates our traffic problems. That’s why we need to enforce the law.
Over at the MMDA, we need the right person who can address the problem and come up with effective and practical ways to improve the situation. Somebody suggested: Hire an engineer to head the MMDA, not a lawyer. “The President needs to fire Chairman Francis Tolentino as soon as possible and replace him with someone who has an engineering background. An engineer can think analytically and find a solution to what is essentially an engineering problem better than a lawyer could.”
We cannot agree more. Engineers are problem solvers and builders. They know how to analyze problems and come up with concrete solutions. They know how to fix things, including a monster problem like Metro Manila’s killer traffic.
Image credits: Jimbo Albano