Kanto Boys versus P-2-P

What is essential is invisible to the eye” – the Little Prince.

There’s been a lot of activity on traffic management and modernization but it seems to me that the experts have not realized the one big difference between the old and the new that they have to address in the way public transport operates. The old way is the way of jeepneys, AUVs, tricycles etc., whom I call the “Kanto Boys” and the modern system being introduced by the DOTr, which is the P2P system.

The “Kanto Boys” are the guys who stop at every major kanto or street corner that has been established as a pick up or drop off point by passengers or commuters. In addition to that, the “Kanto Boys” habitually stop at any corner they want, to pick up or unload passengers simply based on opportunity. So try to imagine thousands of jeepneys, AUV, taxis etc. all driving in the same manner. Simple logic says you cannot achieve regularity in flow and achieve speed because they all stop every two minutes or less!

Just ban the Kanto Boy system of loading and unloading and force all PUV drivers to adapt the P2P system or Point To Point. We no longer live in some munisipyo of the 1960’s where stopping at every kanto did not bother anyone or affect traffic flow. Don’t just change the vehicles – change the driver and passenger mindset.

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Did you ever see the poster of a gorilla scratching his head saying: “Just when I memorized them all – now they change the rules!”  Well, a lot of people are probably beginning to feel the same way about mobility in Metro Manila.

During the last quarter of 2017 a lot of people got manipulated into buying brand new cars after being told that the prices of vehicles would go sky high once the Tax Reform bill was approved. So being a nation of smart buyers or “Siguristas” many people went straight to the car dealerships and bought new cars in cash or installment. Then they discovered right in the middle of Christmas that the actual increase in car prices would be relatively small except for luxury vehicles.

Now comes the sucker punch. If the increase in car prices did not kill your love for cars, chances are the increase in fuel prices will ultimately stop you from driving much and drive you insane as you continue to pay installments for a car that spends more time in the garage than on the road. In fact there are some veteran drivers who are rejoicing about how the unrestrained hike in fuel prices that happens almost on a weekly basis will solve a large part of the traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Sad but true, every time fuel prices near the 50 pesos per liter mark and beyond, a serious vehicle reduction occurs on the roads of Metro Manila. The worst part of it all is that the Oil Cartel in the Middle East are determined to keep the prices high if not higher. So you might as well forget about doing novenas, hoping against hope that fuel prices will go down because they won’t. In fact the spokesman for the cartel keeps talking about 2017 being a good year and they expect no less if not much better profits in 2018. Translation: P50 per liter by the end of the year is highly probable.

So I suppose it’s time to buy a scooter or motorcycle, start walking or take your bicycle of the wall or out of the shed and pedal to nearby destinations. Plan your route or limit the distances. I have personally benefitted to limiting my meetings within a 5-kilometer radius from my house or by lumping events with errands on the same day. Whenever possible, I hitch a ride with someone going the same direction or attending the same event. Call me shameless but it seems more shameful to drive to the same place and add to the traffic as well as gas fumes.

If you have to drive out of town or long distances then adopt the “Viajeros” lifestyle. These are people who go on trips abroad but before doing so, they gather orders from friends and customers then add a tidy profit to offset part of their travel expense. When I go to Lipa, I always come back with dressed chickens, fresh meat from baboy damo, bananas, and whatever else I can load up for the house and my siblings. Simply try to get the most out of your trip as well as the fuel you use and tolls you pay.

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Can the CAAP or the CAB please look into the failure of certain airline companies to regulate the amount and size of hand carry baggage passengers are allowed to take on board!

The general rule is you are only allowed one hand carry luggage that conforms to the size and weight requirements of airlines. You are not supposed to bring two-hand carry luggage plus a huge “handbag” that isn’t a handbag etc. I generally ignore such transgressions of the rules but when you see other passengers having a hard time finding space for their one-piece hand carry because rule breakers abuse, and the airlines don’t do anything, chances are you will get ticked off especially when it has become a regular scenario for domestic flights.

In response to this, Philippine Airlines actually came up with a promo that gives passenger the opportunity to check in their extra “pasalubong bag.” But what are the chances that Pinoys will grab the offer but still stuff several hand carry bags on board! I understand that PAL faces a challenge to be strict on excess or oversized hand carry. This is why we are calling on the CAAP or CAB whoever is in charge to please step in. Send your uniform personnel at the departure entrance of terminals and start checking and restricting the number, size and total weight of hand carry luggage. Implement the rules or remove the rules!

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