No method to the madness

Progress” always comes with a price and the highest of which is paying for something you don’t want.

That more or less has been the result of progress or “free for all development” around Barrio Kapitolyo, Pasig where I live. But the truth is, our community reflects what has been happening to quiet neighborhood communities in major urban areas in the Philippines.

Barrio Kapitolyo was for the longest time very middle class and residential. Land prices were not cheap but within reach and there were a lot of vacant lots. Then the main road that circles around Barrio Kapitolyo was reclassified as “Commercial” meaning businesses could be put up. That was the beginning of the end for the quiet barangay. Residents were divided about that move but were too distracted to seriously study what the impact would be. Then one day Typhoon Ondoy hit Metro Manila, especially the lower parts of Pasig and just as suddenly as the flood, people relocated and bought up all the house and lots they could find. Whatever was left was gobbled up by townhouse developers or speculators trying to ride the tail end of the panic buying. The only positive effect was that lot prices shot up.

The good side was that young entrepreneurs and foodies came in and set-up different types and styles of food outlets. The bad part was that the barangay did not have a plan, concept or the infrastructure or manpower to manage the commercial developments and the traffic congestion that came with it. During the initial stage tempers flared over street parking, petty crimes went on the rise, one in store robbery happened and complaints about noise levels became commonplace. Eventually things did settle down as we all adjusted to the growing pains.

The local government of Pasig soon had to find remedies and after a whole year of trying various solutions, the shortest routes into Barrio Kapitolyo were cut off or closed and replaced with a slightly longer drive to get into Barrio Kapitolyo. While all of that was being addressed, the newly built Capitol Commons that people thought would be for the elite and commoners (or at least for the public) decided they didn’t want to be part of the rush hour traffic route, so they closed their side at certain times. They also blocked or refused to allow the city government to “land” an elevated walkway within their frontage, so for almost two years or more the projects hangs in the air unfinished.

The initial idea was to replace the old Shaw Boulevard Rotunda with an intersection and traffic lights. But when Capitol Commons insisted on being private property and running its own show, that effectively killed plans for the intersection. So the local government of Pasig had to put up barriers to insure a smooth flow of traffic. In effect what we now have is “The Invisible Wall” that separates one side of Shaw from the other.

As a consequence many restaurants that popped up in Barrio Kapitolyo started shutting down. A very good friend who operates several popular restaurants has informed me that the attrition rate inside Barrio Kapitolyo is now at 60 percent and that four or five restaurants are up for sale. Apparently the rerouting and blocking off of the old Shaw Boulevard rotunda turned off so many customers who now have to go out of their way just to eat or drink there. In like manner, many customers from the Barrio Kapitolyo side have lost interest in crossing over to Capitol Commons.

In the mean time property developers and companies with big money have started to build condominiums on Barrio Kapitolyo’s “commercial circle.” Except for the annoying cement mixers that regularly add to traffic, we still have to come to terms with what it’s like to have VERTICAL VILLAGES on top of the existing village. Nobody thinks, talks or does much about these but there is such a terms as “Carrying Capacity” or what the pre-existing infrastructure or governance can handle. City officials all over the country are obviously clueless to the fact that every condominium development means there will be anywhere between three hundred to a thousand cars pouring into the community streets, generates space and garbage problems as well as peace and order concerns.

There are now several business hotels, at least three condominiums/vertical villages inside and above Barrio Kapitolyo. Here is the kicker; we will soon have our own bridge “Made In China” that will cross from Makati to Barrio Kapitolyo, pass alongside a hotel, and two condominiums/vertical villages, land on Meralco Avenue and add to an already traffic congested zone. Bets are on that the Lawton-Sta. Monica Bridge will provide drivers rooms with a view as they drive by. Unless you are an exhibitionist or the developers sell the units dirt cheap, who in his right mind would want to buy a condo unit adjacent to a two lane elevated road that will be jammed packed 4 to 8 hours in a day like in NAIA? If you’re one of those adventurous speculators, just make sure your units have double paned windows!

In the mean time you have government offices such as the SSS, GSIS, PhilHealth and the PNP, particularly the station on Meralco Avenue, causing or creating traffic everyday. Why put up offices that don’t have parking spaces and then spread the word that customers can always park their cars at the nearby supermarket, mall or barangay?

Looking deeper, I realize that first problem is we don’t have long term plans, there is no proper consultation or advise on plans of government both local and national, and there is no method to the madness. We have to halt the Urban Disaster named Metro Manila!

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