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Friday, March 29, 2024

Still a rough ride

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We do not need a mobile application to tell us that the traffic situation in the country is deplorable. We who have to endure the daily commute from our homes to our destinations know too well the debilitating effects of being stuck on the road— and not being able to do anything about it.

Waze reminds us of it, nonetheless, as its latest Driver Satisfaction Index tags the Philippines as the second-worst country among 38, for drivers, next only to El Salvador. Meanwhile, Cebu City was named the worst city to drive in among 186 cities. Metro Manila is not far behind at 170th place.

The ranking was based on several factors including density and severity of traffic, quality of roads and infrastructure, road safety, driver services, socio-economic aspects like access to cars and impact of gas prices, and helpfulness of the app-using community.

Then again, this dissatisfaction with mobility began in the previous administration, under whose inefficient management the traffic and transport situation deteriorated to unbearable levels.

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What made things worse was the callous response of then-President Benigno Aquino III and his transport officials to the people’s complaints. Denying they were ever really responsible for the mess, the former officials dismissed the long-suffering public’s woes saying that traffic was not fatal and that it could in fact be construed as a sign of progress.

But that was another era, one that is thankfully over. These days, rightly or wrongly, the government seems to want to get things done at whatever cost.

And if there is something to be done immediately and without hesitation, it should be both short- and long-term solutions to the traffic problem which has taken its toll on the productivity of the populace.  The proposals have been many, ranging from immediate emergency powers to the more far-reaching infrastructure planning.

The Duterte administration came to power with a strong mandate. While its other campaigns, like the one against illegal drugs, have received a mix of praise and criticism, we believe resolute action to solve the traffic crisis will be received more positively by the people. They are, after all, the ones who simply want to go about their daily routines, and earn their keep in peace.

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