Pala-isip

The Facebook page of ANC 24/7 is asking for its reader's suggestion on how to solve Metro Manila's traffic problem. This got me thinking, "what is the best way to solve Metro Manila's traffic problem?" It's easy to make suggestions, what's hard is the implementation and the cost of implementation. So what is the the best way to solve Metro Manila's traffic problem and the most cost effective solution? Punitive Fines Add caption First of all, any implementation will definitely cost money, a lot of money. The cause of the traffic mess is the people themselves so it's only right that those causing the traffic problem should be fined and the fine should hurt. That way, the fines will pay for the cost of enforcing the law. The fines should start at P500 and goes up every week if you don't pay it within 15 days. To enforce this and prevent people from ignoring the fine. It will be tied to their driver's license or car registr...

In a nutshell.

AGREEMENT REACHED Manila Mayor Joseph Estrada and Vice Mayor Isko Moreno announce that an agreement has been reached with the bus operators and drivers over the implementation of the bus ban scheme. The meeting took place at City Hall Thursday, Aug. 8, 2013. Estrada and Moreno were ready to face the bus drivers and operators who initially tried to resist the bus ban scheme that seeks to decongest traffic in Manila. Video by INQUIRER.net's Ryan Leagogo While this may be good, unfortunately, once Erap is gone from office, the new Mayor will bring back the buses. Philippine rules and regulation changes with the change in government. Nothing sticks that's why there's always confusion and nobody follows the rules.

So...bus lang pala?

Do you know why traffic is always so bad in Metro Manila? Here's why. (photos courtesy of their respective owners) And the MMDA would rather double the number of days to ban private vehicles from going on the road with their color coding schemes. I wonder how much more stupid the MMDA can be. The problem with the traffic is discipline and not private vehicles. Every driver, whether public or private have no discipline. But it's worst when public vehicles do it because they block the whole road trying to get passengers whereas private vehicles keep going to their destination. If the MMDA wants to solve the traffic in Metro Manila they should do the following: Reduce the number of buses. Use smaller buses. Make it a requirement for every driver of a public utility vehicle to undergo driver training and road courtesy with an exam before they can take to the streets. Standardize all the road signs and road lane in the whole country. Set up designated PUV...

This is how Philippine traffic rules work. From Thinking Class of the Philippines's Page

James Deakin shared a photo that shows the cause of the traffic problem in EDSA. When will the MMDA make mandatory road trainig as part of the requirement for being a bus driver? Photo shared in Creative Manila's Facebook Page.

Found this infographic on the Rappler's Facebook Page on the new EDSA bus segregation system.

Here's proof that bus drivers along EDSA tag-team to block private cars. Photo from Top Gear Philippines .

I just saw this but I don't know if it's true. One of my pet peeves driving in Manila is when you get caught and they say your violation is "swerving" which is ridiculous. It's a violation for you to swerve, but not for Jeepneys to swerve. Very Important Message: Kapag hinuli ka ng traffic enforcer at alam mong wala kang violation: 1. Kunin mo ang mission order nila upang malaman mo ang kanilang area of responsibility, time of duty and official function; 2. "SWERVING" ay HINDI isang traffic violation. Tandaan: 1.Hindi maaaring kunin ang iyong driver's license maliban na lamang kung ikaw ay sangkot sa traffic accident o nakalikom na ng 3 o higit pang traffic violations. 2. Walang karapatan ang traffic enforcer na pababain ng sasakyan ang driver. Ipadala ang pangalan ng traffic enforcer at ang reklamo sa email@mmda.gov.ph

(Philippines, Manila-AFP) - Thousands of traffic enforcers struggle grimly to keep the Philippine capital's notoriously gridlocked roads moving everyday, but Ramiro Hinojas does it with a smile and a little help from Michael Jackson.

Several articles on the Philippine Daily Inquirer have been talking about the flooding caused by Typhoon Ondoy in Metro Manila on Sept 26, 2009 like this one that says nine hours would have made a difference and this one where it says flood forces developers to back off . I especially like this one where Marikina Mayor says they have learned their lessons . All I can say is, "Ngayon pa!" Why do these people always wait until some huge calamity happens before they learn their lesson? These are not new things. These problems has always been there in some small way. But a study done back in the 1970s has already warned government of these potential once in a hundred years event. I really like what Marikina City Mayor Marides Fernando (wife of MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernado) says. Lesson No. 1: No more excuses and favors for riverside squatters living in danger zones. “This time around we’ll be very strict. I think now people have no reason to resist when we ask them to move out ...

It was raining the whole week I was in Manila. As usual, once it rains, we get floods and potholes everywhere. What else is new? Normally, when I drive in Manila. I'm cursing all the time because of the traffic and the potholes. Instead, I resolved not to do that this time and just take photos as a way to vent out my frustrations. Here are some photos I took. This is Rizal Avenue I believe. This is C-3? Or whatever that big road is along Rizal Avenue under the LRT Station. That's actually a small pothole. Just before that it was a crater like the moon. I couldn't take a photo because the whole vehicle was tilting left and right as we drove through it. Traffice was on a virtual standstill because everybody has to slow down through those potholes. This is along B. Serrano I think. I though the Mayor of Caloocan says that "Echiverri Nice City". No it's not! I wasn't a nice city when Asistio was mayor, it wans't a nice city when Malonzo was mayor, it cert...

I was in Manila last week and I was driving along, the car in front of me (I think it was a Pajero ) turned left to enter the driveway to his building. As he was turning, a man in a motorcycle went straight and the Pajero hit the guy in the motorcycle. The guy in the motorcycle was on the ground writhing in pain. I think he may have twisted or broke his ankle. I actually didn't see the incident as it was happening, when I arrived at the spot, the man in the motorcycle was already on the ground. The driver of the Pajero was obviously mad. That's actually not the end of it. What really caught my attention was, the driver of the Pajero came down from his vehicle walking slowly towards the guy in the motorcycle. I thought he was going to help the guy he hit. Instead, the first thing he did when he came out of his Pajero was to check his bumper to see if there was any scratch! Not only that, walking slowly towards the guy he hit, the first thing he said was, " ba't big...

Can someone please explain to me why the traffic in Manila can't be solve? Yes, driver's don't follow rules. Yes, there's too many cars. Yes, the PUVs don't have discipline. For all the things that the MMDA has done, traffic still sucks. I don't even know why they put color coding in place. It just doubled the number of cars since most people who can afford a car bought another one to get away from color coding. But it seems to me, it's quite easy to solve the traffic problem if they would only use some common sense. Check out this photo. Why is the tricycle in the left-most lane? It's not only that, the bikes, calesas and pedicabs use this lane. Isn't the left lane supposed to be for turning and for fast vehicles? Seems to me if they put a lane on the right for slow vehicles and PUVs to stop. So the other vehicles on the middle and the left lane can keep going at the What about this? Why do these people keep going when it's already stop? Not...