Cramming for 2016
AS students in University of the Philippines with exams scheduled for a day or two, we resorted to spending sleepless nights going over borrowed notes, poring over stacks of reference books and trying to “cram” all of these into our tired brains. We knew that if we had studied and managed our schedule earlier, we would have been less stressed and better prepared for the rigorous exercise ahead. But we had no choice; desperation made us depend on “cramming.”
The actions of the Aquino administration in recent weeks, especially as it faces a continuing crisis in the traffic mess of Metro Manila, remind me of our futile moves to pass our college examinations. The Aquino administration officials are engaged in “cramming” and are coming up with desperate “instant solutions” when we all know that if the traffic problem had been addressed early in the Aquino administration, there would be no crisis today. An integrated approach started in earnest when the Aquino administration took office and had then DOTC Secretary Mar Roxas as the key man would have helped. Regretfully, Sec. Roxas performed in the same manner that he did during the typhoon Yolanda disaster – only visuals; no action.
Mandating the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group to clear up the traffic along EDSA looks more like a PR move than a lasting solution to the crisis. Visibility and enforcement can only do so much. Newly designated traffic czar Rene Almendras can lead the way by starting with the basics: Who is the priority client of easing up the traffic mess and what proposed programs should be fast tracked to lead to a sustainable solution?
It is clear that the traffic plan should put the interest of President Aquino’s “bossings” ahead of all other sectors. With this in mind, public transport vehicles should be given more lanes in EDSA than the private vehicles. More permits should be issued to increase the availability of public transport especially during rush hours to alleviate the plight of PNoy’s bossings lining up along EDSA waiting for hours to get a ride home or to the office.
This concession to the public transport operators should be matched by finally implementing the plan to move all public transport terminals out of the inner core of Metro Manila, especially those along EDSA in the Cubao area to the outskirts. This will ease the congestion as these huge provincial buses maneuver to enter and exit the present terminals along EDSA.
The present DOTC secretary, who is president of the ruling party, the Liberal Party has been quoted in the papers as saying that he is not in charge of the traffic; it is the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. Secretary Almendras should remind him that good governance is based on good performance of connected units of government. No government department is an island unto itself. Its action or inaction will affect the workings of other agencies. Thus, the DOTC should have undertaken the following programs/projects even at the start of then Secretary Roxas’ term – a better system of licensing drivers to include stringent tests for physiological and physical capabilities; an improved renewal system for driver registration to weed out frequent violators; the non-issuance of permits to dilapidated and malfunctioning vehicles; and imposing the setting up of terminals outside the main arteries and definitely not within residential areas.
The Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG) which used to be headed by PNoy’s anointed presidential candidate, Mar Roxas could have used its awesome power and influence to get the Philippine National Police in all jurisdictions to enforce the traffic rules and regulations and all local governments to adopt ordinances that will: 1. Prevent the parking of any vehicles on the national and local government roads; 2. All commercial and business buildings including residences should have adequate parking spaces; and 3. Prevent tricycles and pedicabs from plying national roads. I am sure that the new DILG secretary whose appointment has been praised by some given his “action agad” track record will do a better job than his predecessor, Sec. Mar Roxas.
Sec. Almendras, the management expert that he is, should be able to finally get all the Cabinet members to focus on the aspects of their departments that impinge on the traffic situation and collectively come up with a consolidated and effective answer to the traffic mess.