Blame Metro Manila mayors for congestion

The Metro Manila Council composed of Metro Manila Mayors showed lack of imagination by renaming an unpopular idea from “HOV” to “Carpooling Policy.” They simply came out with the same dog with a different name, and brought the dog out with a handler named “Bistek” as if to answer the nagging question: Whose crazy idea is the HOV policy? QC Mayor’s Bautista’s willingness to take ownership of such an unpopular idea is either a statement of political will or a political death wish.

That “Dog” show of the MMC last week reminded me of Albert Einstein who defined Insanity as: “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.” Resubmitting a poorly prepared work, giving it a new title and adding an author’s name to it, does not change the fact that the HOV or the Carpooling policy of the MMDA is borne out of lack of consultation, poor preparation and the “medicine being worse than the illness.”

Now Mayor Bistek and MMDA GM Jojo Garcia will force the issue, ignore public outcry, ignore a Senate resolution calling for a stop to their mad idea and ignore the fact that the alternative roads of Metro Manila have not been prepared or cleared in order to accommodate the shift of vehicular volumes from EDSA. As Einstein warns us: “We cannot solve our problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them.” Two weeks ago MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago asked me if I had any suggestions on how to improve the HOV idea. Just so the folks at MMC and MMDA don’t get the feeling I am simply bitching and persecuting them, I humbly submit for their reconsideration a consolidated list of suggestions given by readers as well as myself on how to improve HOV or the carpooling policy.

The carpooling idea is not all bad, but it can be a lot better. Following Einstein’s views, the MMC and MMDA need to expand the circle of people they work with. The Book of Proverbs 11:14 teaches us: “Where there is no counsel, the people fail. But in the multitude of counselors there is safety. In Proverbs 15:22 “Without counsel, plans go awry, but in the middle of counselors they are established. There are many experts from the AAP, UP, Motoring Media and Transport sector. Even Social Media such as Facebook has produced many positive ideas on the subject.

Start Small. “Do not despise small beginnings” (Zechariah 14:10). The ban on “singles” on the entire width and length of EDSA is too ambitious and an overkill. It inconvenienced too many people and created too many enemies for the MMDA and its HOV idea. There was also no statistical evidence to support the need to ban all single occupant vehicles because the MMDA never had any clear numbers on the actual average number of single occupant vehicles on EDSA versus numerous occupant vehicles. If they can’t see through tinted cars, how can you count passengers? Don’t just reduce vehicles, increase speed and maximize use. What’s the point of having a half empty EDSA if the greater number of users is stuck elsewhere? Critics could argue the reverse: why not direct HOVs to Mabuhay lanes instead. That of course is just fighting nonsense with nonsense. “Start Small” as in: work on one lane first. Some say the left most lane, others say the middle or motorcycle lane so carpoolers can easily get off EDSA when they have to. Other countries allegedly use what we now call the yellow lane.

Incentivize carpoolers by giving them stickers that would exempt them from “Coding” as long as there are at least two passengers on board at all times even in Makati where there are no “window hours”. Make sure it’s faster to use the carpool lane with no other vehicles and buses cutting in. Create carpooling apps or communities within villages, schools and companies. Solicit support from parking operators, malls, and gas stations and LGUs to give parking and fuel discounts to carpool vehicles. If the MMC insist on their Carpool policy then use an alternating Odd/Even number based scheme. That way you reduce the volume substantially but not deprive motorists unilaterally everyday.

Meanwhile the MMDA should temporarily stop doing the road clearing operations that Bong Nebrija and team have been doing at risk to life and limb. Let the Mayors of Metro Manila do the clearing operations. It’s their responsibility but they have been passing the buck to the MMDA so that, they, the Mayors don’t look bad in the eyes of Barangay officials and constituents while saving a ton of cash and robbing the MMDA of much needed funds. This is something Senate President Sotto should investigate and not punish the MMDA budget for the sins of the MMC bosses. I discovered that the MMDA does not have enough people and equipment to do the clearing operations so they have to calendar requests for clearing operations. The notion and impression that the MMDA can clear the inner roads of Metro Manila is a sham! The Mayors can do the job but they won’t!

The MMC has also used the HOV controversy as their excuse to increase the fines and towing charges against illegally parked vehicles and obstructions astronomically. But how sure are we that local officials are not owners or partners of towing firms or companies who managed traffic enforcement in their towns or cities? Yes, fine pasaways like hell, but it is also their responsibility to stop corruption among their enforcers. Pasig enforcers on Meralco Avenue are notorious for targeting women drivers, while Mandaluyong enforcers make up laws such as “Light Truck ban” on Boni Avenue even on Saturdays. MMDA enforcers told me there is no such rule as “Light Truck Ban on Saturdays.” At the end of the day, it is the MMC who are the cause of the problem and are now creating more problems! They should be investigated!

*      *      *

E-mail: [email protected]