Recently, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the city of Manila undertook bold moves to ease traffic congestion in the metropolis. But this was at the expense of low-income earners who had to take two bus/jeepney rides (instead of one) and pay double fares before they could reach their usual daily destinations. They also lost precious time in transferring from one vehicle to another. At first there was a strong howl of protest coming from the affected poor sector of our society, but as time passed, they realized that everyone had to make sacrifices for the sake of our country.
We are, however, wondering why up to now nobody seems to notice the gridlock that builds up in front of La Salle Greenhills on Ortigas Avenue every school day (for the last 30 years!). Private cars triple park on either side of the national road. We see several traffic enforcers who are paid with people’s taxes to manage the smooth movement of vehicles and pedestrians in the area. But instead of apprehending drivers who park illegally (ironically, there are “No Parking” signs on the electric posts in the area), they turn a blind eye on triple parking and they perform their job just to make sure that one lane on each side of the road would be left open for ordinary Filipinos.
Lately, the rightmost lane of the bridge (going west downhill to Ortigas, it is hoped this wouldn’t collapse like what happened in Mandaluyong a decade ago) has been made a parking area. The result is bumper-to-bumper traffic as far as Megamall on the south side, Meralco on the east side and Santolan Avenue on the west side.
May we call on the MMDA, the City of Mandaluyong, the administrators, faculty, students (and their parents) of La Salle to please think also of the interests and welfare of their fellow Filipinos.
—DANNY CO,
attydco422@yahoo.com.ph