Educational group bucks 4-day school week

MANILA, Philippines - The proposed four-day school week will not solve the traffic problem in the metropolis, according to an official of the Catholic Educational Association of the Philippines (CEAP).

CEAP advocacy and information management officer Anthony Coloma, however, said the proposal  is a “laudable action on the part of the MMDA to look for creative solutions to the pressing concerns of daily traffic.”

 â€œThe creative solution may be a short-sighted response to a problem that requires structural and long-range solution,” he added.

CEAP comprises more than 1,000 Catholic schools in the country.

Coloma said the MMDA should instead come up with a well-studied comprehensive plan.

He cited the need to clear the roads of unnecessary blockages such as toppled electric posts, junk cars and illegally parked vehicles, relocate basketball courts and vendors, and fix damaged roads to reduce traffic build-up along the major thoroughfares.

He said the MMDA and other concerned government agencies should also synchronize their plans.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the four-day school week, which is being practiced in other countries, has been effective in reducing vehicle and pedestrian volumes as well as cutting transportation and education costs.