Wishful change

In the last column, we compared the wish list submitted by businessmen after holding a two-day summit with the government’s 10-point economic program. We mentioned also a number of wish lists that have surfaced, presumably inspired by the new administration’s “Change is Coming” call to action.

One of the lists that we stumbled upon reportedly came from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), specifically on how to manage the metro’s roads and vehicles.

We checked and rechecked, but it seems to have been more of an aspirational wish list done by one zealous netizen. Nevertheless, it deserved attention for its no-nonsense approach.

Many of those on the list, undoubtedly, would be difficult to impose, given the workings of our country’s democratic system, as well as Filipinos’ penchant to resist change. But one can dream. Here’s the list of 22 items, followed by two paragraphs (not mine) explaining the “background” of the list. Read on.

1. No more number coding, simply have an odd-even scheme to be implemented and no hours of exception window.

2. New cars cannot choose plate numbers.

3. Buses not allowed to overtake.

4. All subdivision gates open to the public 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. and no parking in these subdivision roads within this time frame.

5. No stopping, no waiting, no loading/unloading on classified roads.

6. No garage, cannot acquire car (neighborhood inspection for violations conducted 11 p.m. to 4 a.m.).

7. Minimum fine if car stalled in main avenues is P10,000.

8. All sidewalks will be cleared.

9. Jaywalking fine is P5,000.

10. Strict no contact traffic apprehension.

11. Provincial buses have no business plying EDSA as these are not allowed to load and unload passengers.

12. No more P1 million fine for colorum and out-of-line buses. These will be confiscated and LTO registration cancelled as their use is illegal.

13. Educated and well trained and highly paid (P35,000 per month) MMDA traffic constables dedicated to apprehension and ticketing with on-line high-tech devices with cameras will be deployed.

14. More than 15-year old vehicles will be denied registration.

15. Traffic and parking in schools will be regulated. Example, strictly no parking along Ortigas Ave.

16. Unutilized large vacant lots to be used for pay parking by LGUs. Revenues to be used to cover real property taxes and security costs.

17. Strict motorcycle lane enforcement with P5,000 fine.

18. Five-year license renewal requires written and practical re-tests for drivers.

19.  LGUs not allowed to designate pay parking along streets, for example, in Makati and Greenhills.

20. Commercial establishments cannot use parts of sidewalk for parking, for example, on Morato, Timog and Maginhawa in QC.

21. Bus stops relocated 100 meters from malls and train terminals to avoid congestion.

22. Grab and Uber to be given incentives for carpool schemes.

MMDA’s focus is to move people and not cars. Reduction of private one- or two-passenger cars will allow more buses on the street. One bus carries passengers the equivalent of 25 cars minimum to 50 cars maximum. Bus consumes fuel equal to that of only five cars traveling same distance.

MMDA have these measures for a long time now but could not implement them in the absence of emergency powers.

Flooding in the metro

Another part of MMDA’s role these days is flood management. The role was previously with the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) but was transferred to the MMDA in 2002 during the term of Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo.

The onset of La Niña this year, forecasted to be on the extreme side following one of the harshest El Niño in the country, had triggered the MMDA to start early dredging, declogging and desilting operations of Metro Manila’s waterways and drainage systems.

Twelve pumping stations located in Aviles, Valencia, Libertad, Tripa de Gallina, Makati, Sta. Clara, Paco, Pandacan, Arroceros, Balete, Binondo and Quiapo have also been rehabilitated and upgraded to drain excessive floodwaters from strong rains.

Last month, MMDA announced the completed upgrading of the Taguig pumping station, which hopefully would ease the flooding the city perennially experiences during prolonged rains.

Unfortunately, there are still more than 40 pumping stations in the metro that need improvements, many of them operating inefficiently for the last decade and unable to meet the challenges of strong rains.

Additionally, the management of the metro’s waterways remains a big problem with the continued existence of informal settlers alongside esteros, creeks and river tributaries. Most of the residents of these homes dump their wastes directly into the canals.

With so much garbage finding its way in the metro’s waterways, even new motorized trash rakes and screens, and even the installation of steel gratings and manhole covers on sidewalks and streets, are rendered ineffective during crunch time when typhoons and strong rains lash the metropolis.

Perhaps this condition, aside from speeding up the rehabilitation of the rest of the metro’s 30-year-old pumping stations, will need a new wish list. The MMDA has, as part of its vision “to make Metro Manila a flood-resilient metropolis by 2016.”

It looks like this aspiration is just another wishful thought.

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