Untangling traffic

Emergency powers are being sought for President Duterte to speedily address the crisis that is the traffic mess in Metro Manila. Almost every day there is a reminder of that emergency: traffic jams along most thoroughfares except Sundays and holidays, commuter trains so packed because of limited capacity and the Metro Rail Transit breaking down, sometimes several times in one day.

These days the traffic jams have been aggravated by rutted roads as asphalt pavement again disintegrates during the rainy season. Yesterday a rutted stretch a mere two meters long on the northbound lane of Quiapo Bridge tied up traffic from the Manila City Hall as vehicles were forced to slow down.

This problem is again becoming increasingly common throughout Metro Manila. Even as Congress deliberates on emergency powers for the President to deal with the traffic mess, perhaps the firm hand of the Duterte administration can demand more accountability from public works contractors in delivering quality roads.

For other aspects of the problem, administration officials are reassuring Congress and the people that wielding emergency powers to deal with traffic jams will not be at the expense of public accountability. Lawmakers, for their part, have promised to ensure that any exercise of emergency powers will be characterized by transparency.

In previous speeches, the President has indicated some of the measures he intends to implement, including fast-tracking procurement procedures to expand the capacity of the light railway and commuter train services as well as other modes of mass transportation, and opening certain private village roads to free public use.

Some measures may not even need emergency powers. With his unique persuasive capabilities, the President can have certain village roads quickly opened. He can convince operators of public buses and jeepneys to end their boundary system and start paying their drivers fixed wages regardless of the number of passengers picked up. In the long run, everyone benefits from smoother traffic flow.

The President has pointed to the traffic mess as the reason for eschewing many public appearances in Metro Manila. In fact he must move around more in the nation’s most crowded region to better appreciate its problems and implement solutions. Several of the measures may be implemented even through a verbal or executive order from the President.