Blog Archive

Featured Post

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 alon...

Monday, November 14, 2016

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.

No comments:

Post a Comment