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TRAFFIC
conditions in Metro Manila are really getting worse
these days. And schools have not opened yet.
When
they do, crawling traffic could possibly come to a
virtual stop. Many have been asking if the government,
predominantly led by the MMDA, is really keen on solving
the horrendous traffic situation in the metropolis.
Trying
to solve it mechanically—putting up “pink fences,” road
barriers, constructing elevated pavements, etc.—only
results in spending lots of people’s money without
really solving the problem. After those pink fences were
dismantled one after the other in many parts of Edsa,
concrete pavements have taken their place along with
white markings that are meant to “awaken motorists who
should not be there in the first place.”
Various
means have been experimented with by the MMDA and other
government agencies to clear the flow of traffic
especially on Edsa. They tried to deploy the so-called
Blue Boys, or traffic personnel, on the whole stretch of
Edsa from Monumento to Baclaran and even painted various
white and yellow signs for the motorists to follow. They
even tried to clear the road of obstructions.
But
instead of ridding the metropolis of hair-splitting
traffic, it became worse. Millions (or is it billions?)
of pesos have been spent on experimental solutions but
none have come close to solving the problem.
This is
because the government is not keen on really solving the
traffic problem!
I was
amazed when a car manufacturer reported that there was a
total of 5.5 million registered vehicles as of last
year’s record at the Land Transportation Office, now
headed by Assistant Secretary Bert Suansing. It added
that a total of 118,000 brand-new vehicles were sold,
while 549,015 motorcycles were released on our roads
last year.
The
nationwide vehicle density last year was found to be 28
vehicles per kilometer of road but this is expected to
increase to 33 vehicles as more roads and bridges are
added in the countryside.
Now,
this could really unseat you. Last year, the vehicle
traffic density was found to be alarming as there were
333 vehicles per kilometer of road. Yes, this is
projected to increase to 375 vehicles per kilometer by
2011.
This
clearly shows why traffic is almost everywhere in the
metropolis at a given time, especially during rush
hours.
Come to
think of it, instead of concentrating its resources and
the people’s money on means of transportation that could
move more people at a given time, the government seems
to have closed its eyes to the realities of the road
conditions in the metropolis.
Expanding those railway lines to the busy thoroughfares
and populated areas of Metro Manila should have been the
priority long before. The heavily populated cities of
Japan,
Singapore, New York and many others in the world have
railways that can transport large volumes of people
easily and quickly.
Although
we are now seeing the opening of more MRTs and LRTs to
the south and north, it is baffling why more bus and
jeepney franchises are being released. While the
government is exhorting the use of alternative fuels in
order to save on dollars and fuel, more and more buses
and jeepneys are being added to our roads, especially on
Edsa. That is weird!
Thousands of buses are plying Edsa 24 hours a day, but
seldom do you see a bus that is full even during rush
hour. Why? Many commuters have come to their senses and
are now riding the MRT or the LRT, which are much faster
and cheaper than riding those dilapidated and
smoke-belching buses and jeepneys.
With a
simple stroke of a pen, the government can stop the
renewals or applications for new bus or jeepney
franchises.
****
CHEVROLET has introduced its newest entry in the
compact-car segment of the local motor industry with its
new Aveo Hatchback that was launched recently at the
Metrowalk in
Pasig City.
My
youngest kid Juan Miguel (Migoy) and I tested one
briefly and found out that it had all the features and,
more important, the power of a 1.5L. A manual variant
costs P670,000, while an automatic is priced at
P710,000. Go and test-drive one today! |
