The MMDA Puzzle

Based on reports that I've been hearing, it appears that the Highway Patrol Group or HPG has been pulled out of its traffic duties along EDSA. The MMDA traffic team will now be handling the traffic situation in the metro, and all I could say is, good luck to all of us.

The MMDA has never been an effective traffic enforcement group since the beginning, and that's mainly because they command no respect, both from motorists and pedestrians. Many bus drivers see them as corrupt; along the stretch of EDSA-Ortigas, conductors will just hand over Php50.00, even Php20.00, to one of these so-called traffic enforcers and the bus can stay for hours along this stretch of EDSA, waiting for their passengers to climb aboard.

Along the ADB and EDSA intersection, car owners will just pass by these enforcers with impunity, crossing the intersection even if they see clearly that the traffic situation before them is heavy. The result is a horrible and messed-up traffic jam, with private vehicles blocking the area, when the enforcer should be citing these car owners for a simple and basic traffic rule violation: to always keep all intersections open.

The HPG, however, is often feared, and that's because they won't hesitate issuing traffic tickets to anyone who violates the rules of the road. I've seen one of them being bribed by one bus driver and he asked bluntly, “are you trying to bribe me? That's a crime”.

Sure, the HPG has been involved in several unfortunate traffic incidents, but hardly anyone will question that their presence on the road commands respect. The traffic situation in Metro Manila remains bad, but it's surely a lot better than before the HPG came in.

If only the MMDA could hold the same level of credibility, then maybe they can be left alone in managing the traffic. Sadly, given the public image that they have, the MMDA still has a long way to go in trying to solve Metro Manila's traffic problem. Until that time comes, the HPG should be brought back on the road.

The 24-Hour Odd-Even Scheme Option

I still say the odd-even scheme can be successful if it gets implemented for a full 24 hours and the people tasked to enforce this ensure that it's followed strictly and without exemptions. The 24-hour scheme is particularly crucial because it would mean those affected will have to keep their vehicles off the streets for one whole day.

Just today, at around 6:15 AM, while aboard a shuttle service, I spotted three private cars with the following plate numbers: NDE 339, WON 109, and ACA 5189 and about two others with numbers that I can't recall anymore. All of them are traversing the stretch of EDSA from Kamuning up to where I got off in the Ortigas area.

Today is a Friday and under the odd-even scheme, vehicles ending in 9 and 0, at least starting at around 7AM, are not supposed to be out on the streets. While the vehicles mentioned are still technically not covered yet by the scheme owing to the time involved, they're bound to be covered eventually as traffic in the area is already heavy. Chances are good that at 7AM or thereabouts, they'll still be in EDSA.

But hey, the good news is that if these vehicles ever get flagged down by a traffic enforcer, they can always say that they're already on EDSA before 7AM and just got caught in heavy traffic. That, of course, is a valid excuse but it's also a safe way to run rings around the law.

Now, imagine if the odd-even scheme is enforced for a full 24 hours; then these car owners will have no excuse to hold on to if a traffic enforcer asks them to pull over.

Then there are the private vehicles that are allowed to travel along major thoroughfares without their plate numbers. Today, at around the same time and along the same route, two private vehicles caught my attention because their back ends were blank. That's right; no plate numbers whatsoever. One is a white L300 and the other is a brand-new black Toyota WIGO.

As I said before in an earlier post, these vehicles should wait until they get hold of their official plate numbers before taking to the streets. Otherwise, they'll just add to the continuously worsening traffic situation in the Metro.

It's just too bad I didn't have my phone with me at the time; if I did, the needed pictures should have accompanied this post.

Hey, MMDA, HPG, LTO, are you reading this? Sadly, I think not.Actually, it' pains me to think that no one hardly follows this blog.

The Odds of Solving Traffic in the Metro

The MMDA odd-even scheme should be enforced for one whole day for all affected vehicles, with no exception. With the way it's currently being implemented only during the rush hour, it's not unusual for car owners to say that they got stuck in traffic prior to being covered by the scheme if a traffic enforcer flags them down. It's a valid reason, yes, but it's also a tricky way of bending the rules.

In exchange, the odd-even scheme should be lifted from public utility vehicles, notably taxis. That way, car owners have the option of hailing a cab during days when they have to leave their precious cars at home. They can even consider making arrangements with taxi operators to have a designated cab for them on days when they can't take their cars out on the streets.

One problem with this MMDA program though is in cases when car owners have two or more cars in their garage. This isn't uncommon, which brings in another interesting aspect about the traffic situation in Mega Manila. There's this growing number of brand-new vehicles plying the major streets and many of them still have to wear official plate numbers. Why they are allowed to do so is mind-boggling. Isn't there a rule, an ordinance, or anything that driving an unlicensed vehicle (not carrying the required plate number) is against the law?

Making things worst is that the drivers of these brand-new vehicles are usually newbies. Since these are new drivers on the road, the tendency is for them to drive slowly and carefully lest they bump into another vehicle and get those ugly scratches on their precious four-wheel possessions.

Now, imagine 10-20 newbie drivers driving ever so slowly down a major thoroughfare at the height of the rush hour. The result is slow-moving traffic and no amount of waving from the MMDA asking these people to drive faster can change their minds. Yes, old cars do move rather slowly, but so are brand-new vehicles when a newbie is behind the wheel.

These drivers should be asked to keep their their driving knowledge along private roads while waiting for the plates to arrive. They can do practice driving around their posh villages and subdivisions so they'll be ready for the road once their plates become available.

Roughly 80 percent of all the vehicles that you'll see in Metro Manila streets are being driven by private individuals. That's not counting riders aboard motorcycles who are also growing in numbers and are also causes of great traffic and serious road accidents because of their penchant for swerving and driving non-stop.

Public vehicles, meanwhile, only account for about 20 percent of road travelers in the urban city. Now, whoever said the Philippines is a poor country probably has not seen the number of people trying to get a car loan. That's one other thing that has worsened urban traffic – this endless drive to continue manufacturing new car models. A moratorium on car production should be considered; otherwise, that house you're living in right now just might have to be turned into a garage or a street extension in the near future.