I get uneasy every time I see news reports, private individuals and some government officials blaming the “successful” auto industry for selling too many cars and, therefore, causing too much traffic, particularly in Metro Manila. Is this really the case, that we should be blaming our auto industry for the traffic? Perhaps, we should put things in proper perspective. For 2015 the total Philippine vehicle sales was about 330,000 units, of which less than 100,000 was locally assembled. Is that too much for a population of over 100,000 million?
In comparison, Thailand, with a population of about 71 million in 2015, had a total production of 1,913,002 vehicles, or which domestic sales accounted for 799,632 units, while exports, including to the Philippines, were at 1,204,895 units. Is it any wonder why Thailand is also called the Detroit of Asia? Certainly the automotive industry in Thailand is a major driver in their economy with thousands of Tier 1 and Tier 2 suppliers in their automotive supply chain. It remains to be seen whether our latest attempt to revive our own auto industry through the Comprehensive Automotive Resurgence Strategy Program of the Department of Trade and Industry will enable us to catch up.
Obviously, whenever we have “shoot from the hip” comments from the media and government officials putting the blame on the local auto industry for our traffic woes, we are simply shooting ourselves in the foot. While our Asean neighbors are scrambling to ramp up sales and production in their own countries, here we are hobbling ourselves. This is like blaming the supermarket for your diabetes or hypertension.
Tracing the roots of the traffic problem, we need to understand that people need mobility to get to work, run errands, take the kids to school, attend events, socialize, go on a break and so on. Unless you live in the city center, chances are, wherever you are going will be too far to walk. Therefore, you will need mechanical means of getting to your destination. Since public transport and mass transport systems are inadequate or unavailable, you leave people with no choice but to fend for themselves. Resulting in the purchase of privately owned vehicles including motorcycles.
Isn’t it about time the media does some investigative journalism and find out where our income tax, road users tax, value-added tax, and all the other taxes passed on to us hapless citizens are going? The government always appeals that we should pay our taxes in full and on time all the time so that they can provide us with better service and infrastructure. Tax collections are at record levels and so is the national budget, but what does the government have to show for it? How many kilometers of new toll-free roads have they built in the last six years? How much new mass transport capacity has been added?
I believe the answer to both those questions will be embarrassing. So to deflect the blame, we have to endure the number coding system; be terrorized with severe penalties; and endure traffic enforcers of all types whose real motive is not to improve the flow of traffic but to find a way to apprehend motorists for all sorts of violations, imagined or otherwise.
While we should hold the national government responsible for the lack of new toll-free roads and no efficient and effective mass transport system, we should also hold the local government units for their tolerance for tricycles and pedicabs on national roads or any road for that matter. Pedicabs at most, can only do 5 kilometers per hour, so everyone behind them slows down to that speed causing a chain effect. While even low displacement motorcycles can hit the speed limit, it is a different matter when you add a side car loaded with four people. At best, these tricycles will only do 40 kph and, again, everyone behind has to slow down.
We really should also phase out the jeepneys, because they cause too much pollution and do not comply with the Clean Air Act, which mandates us to be at Euro 4 compliant already. Their drivers do not know basic road rules and regulations and stop anywhere they want, again, blocking everyone behind. The same goes for the busses that are already too old, with bus drivers who are reckless and weave in and out of their lanes, blocking three lanes in the process! So you really think our automotive industry is to blame for causing our
traffic situation?
Comments may be sent to georgechuaph@yahoo.com.