Traffic jams everywhere
So many suggestions. So many experiments. So many ridiculous and crazy ideas on how to solve the traffic problem, particular concern is the one that beset the whole of Metro Manila. The traffic problem is no longer a monopoly of Metropolitan Manila, but also a serious concern of every cities in the country, and even small town like Porac.
I remember there was even a time when there was plan to give President Duterte an emergency power to solve the traffic mess in many urban centers. Too trivial for a president to be dragged. I remember also that Department of Transportation Secretary Art Tugade saying something like he can lick the problem in three months. but the problem is too complicated and huge that not even three years, a real solution can be found. Nonetheless, here are some ideas I wish to contribute.
As it is estimated, the Philippines loses something like P2 billion a day due to the traffic gridlocks. I oftentimes said you don’t have to re-invent the wheels to ease congestions. Ingenuity is not even necessary. So simple. May we humbly request to consider while the planned Private Public Partnership (PPPs) are still being rolled out.
For big towns and cities an ordinance can be enacted and require all establishments malls , casinos, call centers, offices and every commercial establishments to provide shuttle buses to their officers and employees. The number of shuttles is based in the ratio of each establishment’s employees. Example: If an office has 50 to 60 employees= one shuttle and if more than 60, then two shuttle buses, if more than a thousand then the ratio per shift.
Note in Clark Freeport there are more than 70 thousand workers, aside from the thousands of visitors. All companies, hotels, factories, casinos, etc were required to provide shuttles, so no bus companies and only few jeepneys made a route run. The result: No traffic jam.
Provide a minimum of two lanes for all buses, transport and shuttles. In cases where the road is five lanes on both like in EDSA, the three lanes should be exclusive to the buses, and the remaining two for private vehicles.
Only private cars with not less than two passengers can be allowed to ply the innermost lane. The others on secondary l an e.
Get the colorum buses out of the roads, and sell these to small companies for use as their shuttles.
Stricter law enforcement. Remove ‘happy Friday’wherein some bus and jeepney associations pay regular ‘contributions’ to road enforcers.
Remove all smoke belchers and penalize emission test companies which issued the clearance. All the above are worth t r yi ng.
My Tweets: + Expect tourists making their way to Pampanga in April. First there is the grand Balloon Festival April 6 to 9 in Pradera, Lubao. International performers like the new singing sensation Alex Ayuno is one of the signed artists.
+ The flagellation of devotees and the nailing on the cross here in Pampanga draw thousands of foreign tourists.
+ Vice President Leni Robredo is being accused of wrongly presenting before the world crowd a ‘palit ulo’police tactic. Now the call of Duterte’s follower is ‘palit bise’.