Metro Manila has been declared as having the fifth worst traffic in the world. We look forward to the day when the heavy traffic is not something we just have to live with. It truly has caused a lot of anxiety, inconvenience and missed opportunities. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has declared that the economic cost of traffic per day totals P2.4 billion. Two billion, four hundred million pesos! That excludes the other costs to our family and social lives, physical and mental health, and to our environment, no thanks to the emissions from vehicles that are practically parked on highways during rush hour.
What is making people furious is that there seems to be no urgency from authorities to solve the problem. No one from government is taking responsibility. It’s not stated in the mandate of MMDA that they’re in charge, and there is no integration in the decision making among the 17 local mayors. The national head for transport is ineffectively multitasking, and attention is seemingly focused on politicking instead of on this urgent matter. Expect an absence of real action in at least the next eight months leading to the May 2016 elections. Because we cannot rely on this government to solve traffic, there needs to be a willingness in each of us to contribute to the solution (or at least help lessen this nightmare).
It is worth noting that these issues are a combination of factors beyond just vehicle traffic. These can be resolved not only by considering the movement of vehicles (i.e. traffic) and mobility (movement of people and goods), but also by prioritizing accessibility (ability to gain access to goods, services, and opportunities). Ultimately, the goal is to be able to efficiently move people so that they may be able to gain access to opportunities without losing as much time and money in transit.
Addressing Vehicle Volume
It’s clear that the undisciplined drivers of buses, jeepneys and taxis constrict the smooth movement of vehicles when they swerve in and out of their lanes and stop anywhere to load and unload passengers. However, congestion is caused primarily by the high volume of vehicles on the road. It is inconvenient and uncomfortable to take public transport, such that those who can afford to travel by car will in fact buy a car. Between 2008 and 2012, the registered vehicles with the Land Transportation Office increased annually by an average of six percent. President Aquino announced in his last SONA that within a year car, sales increased by 27 percent.
Photo from tobinbennett.com
In some of the most livable cities around the world, policies are in place to limit the growth of the number of vehicles on the road. Penalties, such as congestion charges, peak road use, and market-based parking rates exist to make car ownership more expensive. The fees collected are then put towards investment for public infrastructure and transportation systems so that these become more attractive alternatives.
London practices congestion charging for vehicles entering the central zone. This is beneficial since most of London’s streets still follow its original plan, and has helped preserve its beautiful streets designed more for people than cars. The charge amounts to £11.50 (approximately P830) a day for most vehicles entering the zone between 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on weekdays. Singapore has a similar system through the Electronic Road Pricing, which charges motorists that use priced roads during peak hours.
In my opinion, controls in car ownership are more long-term solutions than limiting car use. In Denmark, registration of a new car costs an average of 180 percent of its open market value. Singapore car owners must bid for the right to vehicle ownership and permission to use road space for 10 years. In the latest round for bidding last August 2015, this certificate cost SG $57,498 (around P1.9 million). The Vehicle Quota System limits the annual growth of vehicles to only 0.25 percent until January 2018. Before you are allowed to buy a vehicle in Japan, you must first show proof that you have available parking space. Additionally, Japanese cities ban overnight parking on streets to enforce the rule.
Influencing Lifestyle Changes
Organizations such as companies and residential associations play a major influence on travel habits. For example, companies can consider flexible work hours to allow employees to bypass peak hour travel times. Instead of giving cars as a benefit, companies can instead give public transport allowances. More online transactions should be encouraged to lessen car trips. In the future, I hope that simple government transactions such as renewal of driver’s and PRC license and NBI clearance, can also be processed online. In doing so, employees need not take time off work.
Residential associations, especially those in the suburbs such as Alabang, Las Piñas, Parañaque, Cavite, Laguna and Bulacan, should encourage carpooling and provide ridesharing to the major trip magnets such as Ortigas, Makati, BGC and NAIA.
Courtesy and Discipline
My foreign friends who visit Manila all remark that Filipinos are the gentlest, friendliest and most respectful people in the world, until we get behind the wheel. We should follow traffic regulations and be courteous to fellow motorists and pedestrians, and not have to wait to be reprimanded. We should also cluster our trips, and opt to walk, or share a ride for short distances.
(Part 2 of this article will be published on September 23.) Link:http://manilastandardtoday.com/2015/09/22/manila-traffic-what-we-can-do-2/
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