One-day summit must resolve real ‘issues’ in Metro Manila traffic crisis  

The daunting challenge in solving Metro Manila’s critical traffic situation is how this administration will instill discipline on a total of 3.6 million vehicles and drivers on the road dominated by 1.67M motorcycle drivers and 1.56M car drivers.  Last year, in anticipation of the Christmas season, the Metro Manila Council and MMDA approved the removal of “window hours” from 7am-to 7 pm which limits private car owners on using their number coded vehicles once every week. This controversial resolution approved by Metro Manila mayors is being held like a Damocles Sword for future implementation. 

Tomorrow, a town hall meeting style traffic summit will be held in FilOil Eco Center in San Juan city and no less than President BBM urged everyone to participate. Presided by MMC president and San Juan city mayor Francis Zamora, this summit in my opinion will certainly “revive” this approved “12 hour no window number coding” because this is the simplest way to take out about 334,000 motorcycles and 312,000 cars off the streets. Yet, the biggest question with this rule, can the existing mass transport system accommodate hundreds of thousand businessmen and employees who will be forced to publicly commute?     

The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) is pushing for the appointment of a powerful Traffic Czar in Metro Manila and the creation of four traffic management zones with a corresponding zone traffic manager that will manage  the traffic situations in their areas. The Traffic Czar shall have full authority to mobilize direct and deploy relevant resources of the government , both national and local during the exigency of the crisis. This is a correct approach because the existing traffic management setup is a confusing coordination of LGU traffic police, PNP traffic cops, LTO cops and MMDA enforcers, aggravated by different traffic citation ticketing policies of LGUs.

The successful EDSA busway project should be expanded to C5, Commonwealth avenue, Quezon avenue, España street, Sucat avenue, Alabang Zapote road and others to encourage people to commute and at the same time avoid traffic.  As I’ve reiterated, provincial buses should be banned forever in EDSA. But at the same time strict implementation of traffic rules on private car drivers should be relentless. 

Except for its horrendous traffic fines that must be greatly reduced, I am really for the revival of the  Non-Contact Traffic Apprehension policy (NCAP)  here in Metro Manila. It must cover all private car drivers, motorcycle drivers including public transport. In practice, it has eliminated  corruption, reduced traffic violation at the same time creating a culture of discipline among motorists.  About 107,000 violators were apprehended  by NCA from January to August 24 in 2022. But this policy is pending in the Supreme court which issued a TRO also in 2022 when  several transport groups challenge the policies of  Manila, QC,Valenzuela, Muntinlupa and Paranaque cities.  Oral arguments ended in early 2023 and up to now decision by the Magistrates are still awaited.

This daily traffic situation  (my experience is Commonwealth avenue and EDSA) really messes up all our lives. Year on year we are wasting a lot of time inside our vehicles during rush hour situations.  The TomTom Traffic index indicated in 2023, that Filipinos lost a total of nearly five days of our lives or 117 hours in heavy traffic. This is an increase of 12 hours and 51 minutes in 2022.

Imagine what productive endeavors we would have done in those lost  five days in heavy traffic?

But the much anticipated Carmaggedon or Carpocalypse may really be inevitable. As I’ve said earlier, there are now more motorcycles than cars on the streets and soon enough more electric motorcycles or  vehicles. How many of you have experienced  near accidents because of “newbies or undisciplined motorcycle riders”? Are these riders properly trained by LTO before being allowed to plow the streets?  

Most of these private motorcycles have no visible plates or even proper LTO registration.?  Will there be new policies on them or perhaps new road allocation to them?

The upcoming traffic summit called by the President tomorrow is both timely and necessary.  First, it admits that a serious “traffic crisis” is happening and  that we must solve this together.  Second, the entire government machinery, from the President, the LGUs, DOTr and the Supreme Court down to the judges must get their act together and resolve the kinks of effective traffic management. And lastly, after government decides on rules , then and only then will the citizenry, particularly, the drivers, both public and private will be convinced to follow them religiously on our streets.(next)

“Mang Porong” Elpi Cuna writes 30

The nation has lost a great PR practitioner, broadcast journalist “Mang Porong” of DZRH or  Don Elpi Cuna of Meralco and San Miguel Corporation. He was a mentor , friend and weekly chatmate from our Tuesday Club Edsa Shangrila and our Friday Group.

He will be missed along with our  PR and Broadcaster colleagues, LBJ of DZMM, Atty Aga Arellano, Butch Raquel of GMA7, Bong Osorio of ABS-CBN ,PR titans Mon Santiago of SMC , Millen de Quiroz of Full Circle Communications and Susie Bugante of SSS.

“Mang Porong” Elpi Cuna will be laid to rest today at the Heritage Memorial Park.