More from insightful readers
We give way to more readers who have sent in their thoughts about the past topics that this column has tackled. Here’s one from Engr. Alex G. Serrano of Legazpi City, who welcomingly tackles – what else – the seemingly untameable traffic issue of Metro Manila. Here’s his contribution. “I write to you occasionally to share my ideas on important current issues, a couple of which you have already included in your column, for which I am very thankful.
“This time I would like to share with you my idea of a network of elevated walkways (inspired by ideas from Arch. Palafox) that would somehow relieve the traffic along EDSA, and at the same time greatly improve pedestrian mobility in our major CBDs.
“My idea is (to construct) in two phases. Phase I is a network of walkways connecting CBDs to EDSA, and Phase II is a linear network of walkways along EDSA from Makati to Cubao.
Phase I
“1. Elevated covered walkway from MRT3 Ayala Station to McKinley Road connected to a network with access to Bonifacio High St., Burgos Circle, Market Market, SM Aura and strategic commercial buildings.
“2. Elevated covered walkway from MRT3 Ayala Station passing alongside SM and Landmark to Makati Ave., along Makati Ave. to Ayala Ave., along Ayala Ave. to Buendia Ave., along Buendia Ave. to Pasong Tamo, along Pasong Tamo to Makati Square, from Makati Square to Glorietta. This network should have links with the existing network within Makati CBD.
“3. Elevated covered walkway from MRT3 EDSA Shaw Station to Shangri-La and Megamall connected to a network with access to commercial buildings along J. Vargas, ADB Ave., Meralco Ave., and back to EDSA Ortigas/Robinsons Galleria.
“4. Elevated covered walkways from MRT3 Cubao Station connected to a network with access to Araneta Center, Gateway, Manhattan, SM Cubao, Ali Mall and other strategic areas.
Phase II
“A linear network of elevated covered walkways from Makati to Cubao passing through the following station/ stops: MRT3 Ayala Station, Estrella Bus Stop, MRT3 Guadalupe Station, MRT3 Boni/Pioneer Station, MRT3 Shaw/ Crossing Station, EDSA/Ortigas Robinsons Galleria Station, Santolan/Camp Aguinaldo Bus Stop, and MRT3 Cubao Station.
“I believe that this network of elevated covered walkways will give the option for the young and not so old executives and office workers to leave their cars at home and take mass transport instead. Which means that mass transport should be greatly improved.
“A possible bonus for the tourism industry may also be realized if backpacking tourists both foreign and local (from all over Luzon, Visayas and Mindanao) will be encouraged or enticed to make a grand tour of the major Metro Manila CBDs simply by walking around especially if, as suggested by Arch. Palafox, these walkways could be made air-conditioned.”
Family values
Our next reader is Gerly de Castro, who shares contemplative views on human life. Please read on.
“Your article, ‘The will to make it happen,’ caught my attention and as I thought deeper, it all boils down to what family values we uphold. A society with contraceptive mentality will never prosper because it will never discover and learn to love, which is the goal of human life.
“From the latest statistics on teenage pregnancy, the 2013 National Demographic and Health Survey states that: ‘Early pregnancy and motherhood varies by education, wealth quintile, and region. It is more common among young adult women age 15 to 24 with less education than among those with higher education (44 percent for women with elementary education versus 21 percent for women with college education).
‘Initiation of sexual activity before age 18 is more common among young adult women with less education and those in poorer households. Over 40 percent of young adult women with some elementary education, compared with only seven percent of those with college education, reported having their first intimate sexual act at age 18.’
“Perhaps we should go to the root of the problem, like better and proper education of the young since teenage pregnancies happen to those with less education; and the creation of jobs so that the poor can uplift their lives.
“I know these are easier said than done, but if we have the will to make it happen, it will happen. If our people are properly educated and have decent jobs, economic growth will follow.
“Today in my reading, I came across the address made by the late Pope Paul VI to the General Assembly of the United Nations in October 1965, half a century ago, and he said: ‘What you are proclaiming here are the basic rights and duties of man, his dignity, his liberty and above all his religious liberty.
‘We feel that you are a spokesman for what is loftiest in human wisdom – we might almost say its sacred character – for it is above all a question of human life, and human life is sacred; no one can dare attack it.
‘It is in your assembly, even where the matter of the great problem of birth rates is concerned, that respect for life ought to find its loftiest profession and its most reasonable defense.
‘Your task is to act that there will be enough bread at the table of mankind and not to support an artificial birth control that would be irrational, with the aim of reducing the number of those sharing in the banquet of life.’
“Yes, let us work together to keep human life sacred. After all, it is God who gave us life.”
Alternatives to raising taxes
And finally, from Manuel “Butch” Cantos are two suggestions on how the administration of President Duterte can avoid raising other taxes even after foregoing revenues from reduced taxes on personal and corporate income. Here’s his two cents’ worth.
“On generating revenue without raising taxes, aren’t there government corporations that can be privatized? I can think of one – TIEZA. I understand it operates tourist lodging houses. Can’t the government sell them to the private sector?
“What about legalizing jueteng? In doing so, the funds that used to go to LGU officials and the police will now accrue to the government, part of which should go to augmenting the benefits of LGU employees and police.”
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