A week after the start of the EDSA traffic program
ONE week after the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) took over the management of traffic on Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (EDSA) in an effort to solve the weeks of traffic jams that had inexorably spread to all parts of Metro Manila, the assessment is that the problem is far from over.
On the first day, Monday, there was a slight improvement in many areas as the HPG took such initial steps as clearing sidewalks of vendors, then positioned 96 HPG personnel at six choke points all along EDSA. While there was improvement at most of these points, the Cubao area remained a big challenge. The HPG said it would now concentrate on this area where, it was noted, several bus stations are located.
The next day, Tuesday, it rained heavily and many areas got flooded. Unable to use their flooded routes, public utility buses and jeepneys were forced to cut down on their trips. The result: Thousands of Metro Manilans were forced to walk home from work and school. For hours, up to 1 in the morning of Wednesday, people were out in the streets making their way home on foot. It was rain and heavy traffic and stranded commuters all over again on Thursday.
The problem is obviously not about traffic enforcement alone. It also has to do with flooding. It has to do with inadequate infrastructure – not enough road space for too many vehicles. It has to do with lack of city planning and zoning – an overconcentration of business, industrial, educational, and other urban establishments. It has to do with unabated increases in the number of vehicles, without any effort to retire older ones.
The HPG can only do so much in enforcing traffic regulations. As a matter of fact, it very realistically gave itself a score of 2 on a scale of 10 for the slight improvement it was able to achieve. After the HPG has ensured proper enforcement of the rules, other government agencies will have to look at many other factors involved in the total problem. New possibilities must be considered and studied, such as an expanded and more efficient light rail system, use of the Pasig and the area’s other rivers as transportation routes, and relocation of port facilities and of factories and other establishments.
For this, a more comprehensive study is needed. The involvement of many other agencies and organizations is needed. Perhaps the appointment of an action czar, who will focus all his energies on this problem, is needed.
These are among the observations and suggestions that have been made a week after the start of the EDSA traffic program. We must continue to give all possible support to the HPG as it attends to its assignment, but we must, even now, start thinking ahead to other wider possibilities and courses of action.