Metropolitan Manila Development Authority chief Tim Orbos never runs out of bad ideas.
First, Orbos expanded the number-coding ban on the use of Metropolitan Manila’s roadways. The MMDA calls this ban the unified vehicular volume reduction program.
Under the old system in force before Orbos assumed office, vehicles were not allowed on metropolitan roads once a week, during the rush hours, depending on the last digit of their license plates. Outside the rush hours, motorists were allowed to use the roads regardless of their license plates numbers. This period was called the “window hours.”
Upon assuming office, Orbos tolerated many causes of traffic congestion. Orbos tolerated slow-moving vehicles and motorcycles which use any lane they please on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) and other major roadways. He also tolerated the indiscriminate misuse of concrete and non-reflectorized plastic roadblocks along important avenues—which often resulted in traffic jams at key areas of the metropolis. Orbos’ mismanagement aggravated the traffic woes of motorists in Metropolitan Manila.
Instead of regulating those slow-moving vehicles and motorcycles, Orbos resorted to an easy way out—restrictions. Orbos believes that banning more and more vehicles from the roads, and not proper road use management, is the solution. Thus, Orbos got rid of the “window hours.”
As if Orbos’ added restrictions on the motorists is not objectionable enough, Orbos allowed motorcycles to stay exempted from the number-coding ban.
It’s bad enough that Orbos’ idiotic solution is restrictive; he proudly claims it reduces traffic on the roadways.
Of course it reduces traffic on the roadways! When twenty-percent of the vehicles which use Metropolitan Manila’s streets are banned from using those streets, one should expect a reduction in the volume of vehicles on the roadways! Any high school student could figure that out.
To repeat, resorting to prohibitions, like what Orbos resorts to, is unfair to motorists. As long as there are other measures that may be taken to solve the traffic mess short of banning vehicles, those options must be explored, especially because all motorists are required by law to pay a road users tax each time they register their vehicles with the Land Transportation Office. Perhaps Orbos lacks a creative mind, which possibly explains why he resorts to prohibitions.
Second, Orbos tolerated a scheme where rich motorists can buy special windshield stickers which will allow their vehicles to use the roads of military camps. That scheme is anti-poor and caters only to the rich who can afford those costly stickers. It is also irregular—why should motorists pay additional money to use a public road? Where will that fund go?
Third, Orbos tolerated the misuse of “intimidation plates” bearing the names “Philippine National Police,” “National Bureau of Investigation” and the like. No MMDA traffic enforcer will dare accost vehicles bearing these “intimidation plates.” As a result, the number-coding ban is rendered useless.
Fourth, Orbos attempted to further restrict vehicles on Edsa by allowing them to use this major highway only at alternating two-hour segments during the daylight hours, depending on whether the last digit in the license plates of the vehicle concerned is odd or even. Fortunately, public opinion killed that stupid proposal.
Orbos latest bad idea is the exemption from the number-coding ban which he granted to physicians who are allegedly “responding to emergency cases.” Under this scheme, physicians need not apply for any exemption; all they need to do is to show to MMDA traffic enforcers their identification cards issued by the Professional Regulation Commission indicating that they are physicians, and to claim that they are “responding to an emergency.”
In an attempt to justify this measure, Orbos said “we are optimistic that this new rule will not be abused by doctors and that they will be conscientious in using this privilege.”
Good grief! That announcement indicates that either Orbos was born yesterday, or he expects the public to believe that hogwash!
Does Orbos know what he is talking about? Physicians in urban centers no longer make house calls! These days, one who is sick must go to the physician at his clinic or at the hospital. It is not the other way around.
Patients at the emergency rooms (ER) of hospitals are not attended to by physicians “who respond to emergency cases.” In reality, those patients are attended to by young and relatively inexperienced doctors and nurses assigned to the ER. After they finish questioning the patient (or his companions) at the ER, these junior, hardly experienced doctors contact the senior, experienced physicians (whether they are at home, at the golf course, or at the casino) by telephone and describe the patient’s condition to the latter. After weighing their options, the senior, experienced physicians dictate their instructions (including what medicine to administer to the patient) by telephone to the junior, inexperienced doctor. Having done that, the senior, experienced physicians show up at the hospital at their own sweet pace, and taking their own sweet time.
Ask anybody who has brought a loved one to the emergency room of a major private hospital. They will confirm the foregoing ghastly scenario.
In view of Orbos’ special exemption for physicians “responding to emergency cases,” countless doctors will now claim that they are on their way to “emergency cases” each time they are accosted by MMDA traffic attendants enforcing the number-coding ban. What a sham!
Orbos’ special exemption for physicians discriminates against other professionals, like lawyers who may need to respond to their own nature of “emergencies.” How come lawyers are not exempted? Are dentists considered doctors within the context of the Orbos exemption?
The Orbos special exemption for doctors also renders the number-coding ban useless. Many vehicles which are supposed to be off the roads once a week, can now remain on the roads as long as the motorist concerned has a physician’s identification card. What is the use of the number-coding ban if Orbos allows unwarranted special exemptions?