More hints and suggestions

Another reader, Raymond G. Tumao, sent a lengthy commentary on every Metro Manila resident now who has to use the major road arteries of the metropolis to travel, either to work or home, for most part of the week.

“Is Metro Manila traffic headache unsolvable’ I think puzzles you too because at the end of your article, there was no sign of a solution. Anyway, I have a set of solutions to this problem which is actually an attitude problem.

“To solve a problem, I always ask myself why it became a problem, where did it originate, who started or caused it to happen and when did it start becoming a problem. And when I arrive at a point wherein I have no further questions, that then is the solution, which makes the problem half-solved. 

“Not all people know that problems create opportunities. So allow me to enumerate some reasons why we have traffic.

“1.  It takes a lot of experience to be able to solve an attitude problem like traffic and that would mean experiencing the whole dilemma in order to understand fully well what has to be done.

“The traffic situation along EDSA had been studied by the academe, represented by the UP-NCTS, for a fee but this organization is being funded by JICA and JETRO, both Japanese organizations formed in the country to provide business to its citizens from Japan. 

“Therefore, their purpose is to see to it that all factions pertaining to transport has to have a ‘Japanese presence,’ not to help the people but to control its business interest. So how could they possibly solve traffic when, in fact, almost all modes of transport like tricycles, jeepneys and buses are Japanese-made – not to mention the Japanese surplus parts industry, which still flourishes to this day. 

Major cause

“2. The MMDA is the major cause of traffic not only on EDSA, but in all places covered by its authority to govern. Its mandate is to control traffic and solve flooding so if there is no more traffic, there will be no violation and therefore, no revenues for them.

“But why is the media silent on the roots and agenda of the MMDA? My classmate’s dad was its second chairman during the Nutribun days, which is why I know that it was originally formed to generate revenues for the president.

“But today, it is tasked to generate revenues for all mayors of Metro Manila to share. This is why traffic could not be solved, at least from their side. One of the solutions in my plan is to abolish the MMDA.

“3.  The main reason why there is so much traffic along EDSA is because of the industry practice of the bus companies and operators along EDSA. The ‘boundary/commission fare system’ is old school, and it considers the riders as prey. 

“What the operators want is to simply get as much money as they can while the system exists, disregarding the comfort and safety of riders. It is also standard practice to give a ‘butaw’ to the police forces that man the main roads and its feeder streets. 

“This is why the drivers, conductors and barkers are so unruly and arrogant in doing their daily chores. There is simply no Corporate Social Responsibility or CSR inherent in their practice.

“4.  The government is inutile in providing efficient transportation modes because almost all of the departments and agencies are waiting for an investor to come in and take over so they can impose fees and charges to kingdom come. 

“The best solution to traffic along EDSA lies in this statement. The MRT and LRT could have eased traffic until today if not for the mismanagement of the police officers who were given ‘juicy’ positions to manage the train operations during the earlier days. 

“So when the train management became privatized, the new owners saw the money that is being generated and opted to join the fray and leave the trains and its rails to complete its useful life. The MMDA, DOTC and the DPWH are there to blame anyway.

Solution

“Solving the EDSA traffic problem is easy for me to solve but it would be too dangerous to implement because several entities would be affected, and in our culture, life is just worth P5,000. I guess the media practitioners know what I mean. 

“In order for you to see how effective my plan could be, here are some salient points which need no further explanation:

“1.  EDSA bus consortium – all operators become stockholders of a new corporate entity called Consortium. This ‘professionalizes’ the ranks of all previous participants and gives the operation of buses a boost to our economy. 

“2.  To be able to perform the duties as a public conveyance provider, only new buses are to be used with some provisions to allow old buses to operate until the end of their useful lives.

“This is done through the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment) method. Maintenance of the buses is not the concern of the operators because a department shall be created just to perform that task.

“3. When the consortium or company operates, all officers and employees should comply strictly with their duties and responsibilities to attain their corporate goal. And paramount of their mission is to provide an efficient mode of transport for the general public.

“4. The MRT and LRT should have smaller cars to run instead of larger ones, which normally weigh more and cause stress on the tracks. Besides, smaller trains can attain higher ridership as long as there is consistency in its volume and time release. Yet, it could be lighter on the tracks.

Intermodal transport system

“5. The ultimate stage in my plan is to employ the Intelligent Intermodal Transport System that is intended to connect the arterial and circumferential roads including the use of Pasig River and Manila Bay with minimal government intervention because they have always asked ‘What’s in for me?’

“Maybe you can give some hints to our fellow citizens what are the causes of traffic and how could they be of help.”

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Should you wish to share any insights, write me at Link Edge, 25th Floor, 139 Corporate Center, Valero Street, Salcedo Village, 1227 Makati City. Or e-mail me at [email protected]. For a compilation of previous articles, visit www.BizlinksPhilippines.net.