MMDA law needs amendment

This is in reaction to the June 12 column (“Wanted: holistic traffic planning”) of former National Economic and Development Authority chief Cielito F. Habito.

I fully agree with him that traffic congestion in Metro Manila has remained a problem for decades mainly because of (1) shortcomings in the practice of traffic management under the so-called 3Es (engineering, enforcement, education) and (2) lack of continuity and consistency in the implementation of various traffic and transport plans.

Traffic management as being practiced today seems to ignore the time-tested and internationally accepted involvement of relevant agencies separately in charge of the 3Es. As it is today, all three components are under the supervision and control of one, single agency, which I honestly believe is not sound traffic management practice, considering the complexity of the problem in Metro Manila.

Before, traffic engineering, which is in charge of planning, designing, installing, operating and maintaining the traffic signal system and other traffic-related devices, was handled by the Traffic Engineering Center (TEC) of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH). Rightly. After all, traffic facilities fall under the DPWH’s infrastructure domain.

On the other hand, traffic enforcement was handled then by a special group of traffic enforcers from the Philippine National Police, Land Transportation Office and the local government concerned, under a unified command headed by a PNP general. For traffic education, the former Metro Manila Commission coordinated the other traffic components’ functions with the relevant government agencies.

In particular, however, I would like to emphasize that the more than 400 intersections which we have “signalized” in Metro Manila (starting in 1980, under the so-called computerized traffic signal system—a DPWH project) have tremendously improved traffic flow in the signalized areas. Imagine the synchronized operation then of the traffic lights with traffic enforcement support under a unified command. A maintenance crew was also on hand, day and night, to check on any malfunctioning of the signal equipment in the field.

However, this apparent improvement in traffic signal operation was disrupted when the TEC was transferred to the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) during the previous administration. Even the TEC building in Sta. Mesa, Manila, together with the traffic accessories installed therein, was practically abandoned. Lack of continuity and consistency, as Habito correctly stated.

In view of the continuing traffic problems confronting Metro Manila, it is urgently necessary for traffic-minded lawmakers to revisit the existing MMDA law for the much-needed amendment. Better still, to enact a National Traffic Authority, which will cover not only Metro Manila, but the entire country as well, for it is a must to standardize traffic management, including a single ticketing system, under the so-called 3Es.

—TRANQUILINO S. ATIENZA,

former director, Traffic Engineering Center-DPWH,

[email protected]