What the MMDA needs to address

The MMDA seems to be pleased with the results of the "no window" removal on several major thoroughfares, citing an improvement in the travel time along EDSA. For now, the "window" has been removed on EDSA, C5, Roxas Blvd., and the Alabang-Zapote Road, along with the city of Mandaluyong which has joined Makati and Las Piñas in removing the window hours altogether. Starting November 1, more roads will have a "no window" policy. These are Recto Ave., Quirino Ave., Araneta Ave., C.P. Garcia Ave., Taft Ave., SLEX, Shaw Blvd., Ortigas Ave., Aurora Blvd., Ramon Magsaysay Blvd., Quezon Ave., Commonwealth Ave., A. Bonifacio Ave., Rizal Ave., Del Pan, Marcos Highway, and the Bulacan-Rizal-Manila-Cavite Regional Expressway. The coding hours will also be extended by one hour, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

I'm suggesting that all drivers should have a written copy of the roads covered by the windowless scheme, to avoid making a mistake of entering them during coding days. Motorists will now have to plan their routes if they must use their vehicles during coding days. This is where a good knowledge of Metro Manila roads will come in handy. One can still be able to move around, if they know where and how to go about avoiding the abovementioned roads.

Almost all Metro Manila mayors are calling for the complete removal of the window hours. This means that if your vehicle is covered by the coding scheme, you can no longer use it between 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., anywhere in Metro Manila. But the MMDA considered the upcoming holiday season, saying that businesses may be affected if a nationwide removal of the window hours were implemented.

I also believe the public must first be consulted since there are those who may be deprived of their need to travel, such as doctor's appointments and the like. Not everyone has two or more cars to use.

I can understand all these measures are being undertaken and considered, to help in easing the horrendous traffic everyone is forced to endure on a daily basis. By all means, if the new suggestions work, then well and good. But the MMDA has to work on many other causes of traffic, such as derelict vehicles left to rot on the side of the road; sidewalks occupied by businesses; roads blocked because of wakes, fiestas, and basketball courts; and terribly undisciplined public utility drivers, particularly tricycle drivers who always feel they are not covered by traffic rules and regulations. They counterflow, enter one-way streets, snake around vehicles, ply major roads when they are not supposed to and park anywhere. The MMDA must clamp down on those who do not follow the rules of the road. I have also said time and again that the "yellow box" must be enforced. There are still those who just cannot understand what the box means. No common sense at all. Why they are still allowed to drive is beyond me. If the MMDA can address all these problems, then there is no need to give emergency powers to anyone.