CTALK
By Cito Beltran
The Philippine Star
By Cito Beltran
The Philippine Star
No one will probably care to read or listen when I say that TRAFFIC is Metro Manila’s version of jueteng.
Considering everyone is now on “Christmas” mode, most drivers or commuters have simply surrendered or resigned themselves to hour-long traffic jams or snail pace driving, especially in the oxymoron period they call the “rush hour.” Yes we all want to rush home or somewhere else, but as far as speed and motion is concerned, we are, more stuck, than in a state of “rush”. For some strange reason, instead of being pissed with the incompetence of the national government and local government officials, we have bought in to the idea that traffic is here to stay and we simply have to live with it.
I don’t know if it’s an “Aha” moment, but it just occurred to me that like with jueteng, if the officials concerned seriously wanted to improve things, traffic in Metro Manila would be far less worse than it is. The fact is everyone in power, from the MMDA Chairman, the Mayors, and their underlings all know where the bottlenecks are, where the illegal stops and parking areas are, and most importantly who are directly responsible for creating the traffic. Even ordinary citizens can tell the government where, why and how to solve traffic problems in their area. But why is it, that in spite of it all, things are simply getting worse?
The answer is: There is a lot of dirty money being made from traffic.
Why are local government authorities resistant if not combative to order and supervision by the MMDA? Why are illegal or unlawful jeepney, taxi and tricycle terminals allowed to sprout all over Metro Manila? Why is it that for years, buses and jeepneys have managed to rule over EDSA, perennially blocking every other intersection on the 16+ kilometer stretch of EDSA? Why did the LTO or LTFRB give up supervision and authority over tricycles that now operate even on major thoroughfares of Metro Manila?
The answer is: There is a lot of dirty money being made from traffic.
How is it possible that Mayors have not been held accountable, liable or charged for causing traffic jams, allowing the operations of “favored” towing companies, conducting questionable if not illegally stopping vehicles on EDSA for alleged smoke belching? How come no one in the national government such as the DILG or DOJ/NBI have conducted surveillance or investigations on extortionists victimizing jeepney and tricycle drivers, even though most motorists can pinpoint locations and styles of the extortionists?
The answer is: There is a lot of dirty money to be made from traffic.
For years the public and the media have complained, talked and exposed the fact that there is a serious problem with “colorum” buses, taxis, etc. But the DOTC and the LTFRB never came up with a full and final solution, why? For years, authorities have talked about the need to retest and prequalify public utility drivers and impose harsher of higher penalties, but nothing really serious was ever done. Why? In recent times, the serious problem of drunk driving has raised its ugly head time and again, but somehow, people don’t want to talk about it because…?
Yes there is a lot of dirty money to be made from traffic.
Sadly, while several corrupt and inept government officials from the national and the local units make money, we the ordinary Filipinos are being made to believe that the traffic problem is almost impossible to solve. For the most part we get reports about heavy traffic. We hear government officials being interviewed on radio and TV, while others drop-in uninvited just to look and sound as if they were doing something about it.
For years I have given almost blind support to the MMDA in all their undertakings, but this year, I honestly find it difficult to support an organization that operates like the traditional “Jack of all trades — master of none.” While I have not received any complaints or accusations of corruption, I have heard time and again from citizens and members of the media that the MMDA has excelled in one thing: Press release and traffic updates. We need a traffic management system that gets us moving and not one that tells us why we are stuck!
It pains me to state this but the multi-tasking of the MMDA including its involvement in the Metro Manila Film Festival would be questioned and criticized in other countries. The plain and simple fact is the MMDA is over extended in its functions and involvements.
I’m sure that this piece will earn the ire or a sour text message from the Chairman of the MMDA, but at this point I have to state that explanations are best replaced with clear action and solutions. Yes the Chairman and the MMDA looks busy but being “busy” does not ease traffic, lost time, lost productivity and lost money that run up into millions a day. For the record, I am not upset about being stuck in traffic. I simply will not resign myself like thousands of Filipinos who think they have to live with being stuck in traffic.
At the very least, if we are inconvenienced and uncomfortable, those who accepted the job and the responsibility of fixing the problem should be twice if not ten times as uncomfortable as we are.
Perhaps this is as good a time as any for President Noynoy Aquino to consider focusing on the problem of traffic. Having won the battle for the Sin tax and the RH bill, President Noynoy Aquino might be well advised to consider how former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani used the basic rule of law concerning motorists and pedestrians to bring back discipline and a sense of order and revival to New York City. I have said this in the past and I will continue to express my belief that any President, who gives importance to “traffic” in Metro Manila in terms of order and discipline, will be the President who will go down in Philippine history as having brought back the self-discipline of the Filipinos.
If that doesn’t turn him on, then he can also consider the fact that the traffic on his “Matuwid na Daan” is the best sign that corruption is very much alive and well even in the P-Noy administration.
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Email: Utalk2ctalk@gmail.com
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