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| ON THE OTHER HAND |
| MMDA Wins Some By Antonio C. Abaya Written March 02, 2005 For the Philippines Free Press, March 12 issue His batting average is by no means perfect, but MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando has scored some points in his battle to make Metro Manila a better place to live and work in. Traffic flow has improved on many major arteries. This was achieved by eliminating choke points or intersections, which are the main generator of traffic jams, and replacing them with U-Turn slots some distance (50 to 100 meters) away from the intersections. Instead of piling up at a two-way or four-way intersection, vehicles go past the cross and make a U-turn at the designated slot and turn right into the desired cross-street. It is not a tidy arrangement and the U-Turn slot does force vehicles to veer away from their through lanes into the outer lanes. But because of the lack of money (as well as, in some places, a palpable lack of space), left-turn overpasses are just unaffordable and impractical. So the U-Turn slots are the next best solution. But it has to be admitted that in some intersections the volume of traffic is so heavy that the U-Turn slot is easily overwhelmed and causes more congestion than it seeks to ease. Such was the case at the C-5/Kalayaan intersection, which became a sore point between officials of the MMDA and the City of Makati. At this intersection, an overpass cannot be avoided, because of the sheer volume of vehicles running in all directions. The overpass will have to be over C-5, with no left-turn ramps as this would make the structure too expensive. If at all possible, Kalayaan Road should be widened, and at both approaches of the overpass there should a rotunda or roundabout to serve as a U-turn point. Thus vehicles northbound on C-5 wanting to turn left to Makati must turn right first, negotiate the roundabout, then climb up the overpass towards Makati. Vehicles from Makati on Kalayaan wanting to turn left into C-5 towards Pasig must first cross C-5 on the overpass, negotiate the roundabout, then turn right on C-5. And so on. Since all eight faces of the intersection are government-owned land, there should be no problem with right-of-way, and affected squatters can be relocated to the many empty spaces nearby. But the government must insist on its right of eminent domain When C-5 was being built in the mid-90s, I wrote in my Philippine Star column then that C-5 must be designed and built as a non-stop artery. Otherwise it will become another congested stop-and-go artery like EDSA. While there was obviously not enough money in 1995 to build all the overpasses that have been built since, there was a basic flaw in the design that I sought to correct before it was too late. This was the alignment of the two-lane ramps of the skyway connected to the three-lane bridge over the Pasig River. Even before the DPWH contractor built the columns for these ramps, I wrote in the Philippine Star that those ramps should be allowed to run overhead for another 60-80 meters, beyond the cross street (called Canley on one side, Retelco on the other). This would allow vehicular traffic coming from the Pasig city center to cross C-5 under the skyway into the Ortigas area, instead of piling up to turn left at the Lanuza intersection. At the same time, I wrote, there should be a third lane (3 into 2 is a no-no) on the skyway, and it should be an exit lane that goes down to street level for vehicles heading for the Pasig city center or for the Ortigas area (via the Canley-Retelco cross street under C-5). This would have made the Lanuza intersection totally unnecessary. Then MMDA Chair Peng Oreta later told me that in a Cabinet meeting this was discussed and President Ramos (a civil engineer by training) specifically told then DPWH Secretary Gregorio Vigilar to �follow the suggestion of Tony Abaya,� but he never did. Another innovation that MMDA Chair Fernando has used with success is the two-meter high welded-wire fence that he has put up to prevent people crossing where they should not, or disembarking from buses where should not. Again, not the tidiest of solutions, but the only one that works, given that many Filipinos have a cultural aversion to following rules. But I must disagree with Bayani�s Wet Flag method of forcing pedestrians to stay on the curb while waiting for a ride. This was probably initiated just to gain media attention, and from that perspective it has been a success. But it is silly. Waving a wet white flag is, symbolically, a sign of surrender, that he has run out of ideas. Which, obviously, Bayani has not. ***** Reactions to [email protected]. Or fax 824-7642. Other articles in www.tapatt.org. Because of time constraints, this article was not distributed on the Internet, so no reactions were received from Tapatt viewers. However, by coincidence, we received a contrarian point of view on the subject from Dan Andrew Cura, TV anchor of ANC news channel, which follows in full: Magpakabayani Ka Bayani, atbp! By Dan Andrew Cura I would like to take this opportunity to address Chairman Bayani Fernando and the MMDA together with the other Government units in-charge of Traffic Management and Transportation. Several people including the undersigned have been very frustrated by what we perceive as a �hit and miss� approach to our traffic woes. While you Government Bigwigs all travel around town with your police escorts complete with sirens and lights blaring, we have to waste away in traffic jams caused by your �brilliantly crafted� schemes and experimentations. Time, Money, and energy are wasted together with our health and patience. In fairness, though, we have to give credit where credit is due and I mention these with all sincerity. I commend Chairman Fernando for what most people see as Command Responsibility and Political Will. Only Mr. Fernando was able to clean up almost the entire length of Commonwealth Avenue and other highways of illegal structures facing the ire of squatters. He did clean up the vendors along EDSA near the Balintawak Clover Leaf, although, they would creep back every now and then. I must commend the MMDA for the pedestrian foot bridges that did not take years to finish because of BF experience with pre-fab construction. I do have some aversion to the Electric Pink that Chairman Bayani adores but hey, if that�s his taste for color, who can argue with him. He said he�d do it and he did. I was most impressed. Marikina under his watch as Mayor was virtually transformed from a third rate municipality to an orderly city bringing pride to the residents there. All of the things mentioned have place Chairman Fernando to a level of respect and we honor that. However, the Metropolis of Manila is a different story all together and what applied to Marikina may not be applicable in a larger scale. Also, my intent is to bring to the fore the programs and projects that a substantial number of people feel are not being effective in addressing the needs and concerns of the metro. On U-turns and Stanchions: In this area, I really get confused. As far as I�ve heard, the men behind the Traffic Planning and Programs that we have experienced so far have Doctorates or Masters Degrees in Traffic Management and possibly Urban Planning from some of the finest Universities in the US of A. However, I have not seen the gamut of U-turns and Concrete stanchions or Chicken-wired Fences in cities that I�ve been to like Los Angeles, California or Sydney, Australia, or even Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia and definitely none in Singapore. So, I ask �What kind of Planning are they thinking of when instead of opening Streets and intersections, they block it and HERD vehicles to go through a U-turn that eats up one to two more lanes causing more traffic jams and is further complicated by Chicken-wired fences on another lane? My answer�FOR THE BIRDS! I have been a practicing architect in my early days and I learned that the purpose of roads and streets would be to provide access and mobility. MMDA and other planners such as the ones in the Ortigas center have redefined that today. Streets are blocked, redirected to be �one-way� and traffic rerouted to cause the greatest form of anguish for the motorist and riding public. They think that by herding vehicles in one direction that vehicles will flow like water in a pipe. Well folks, it doesn�t work that way. Please understand that what you are doing is creating a funnel where you force all the vehicles from two or three different 2 to 3 lane roads to converge to one 2 to 3 lane street. Effectively, or I should say, ineffectively, bringing 6 lanes of vehicles into two lanes�horrendous. Several cars that could have turned right or left to get into a building and park and eventually out of the road is now forced to join the rest of the band around the block, adding to the number of cars on the road. Herding is for Cows and other cattle. Chicken-wired fences are for chickens and bird cages, like in EDSA Cuba, and the recent one along EDSA-Santo an-Connecticut are for the birds. Traffic rules and regulations are for the Thinking man. Then Secretary Oscar Orbs, under the Cory Administration, said it best. He mentioned that we do not need new laws and if I may add MMDA Schemes. We have all the laws that we need. What we need to do is to implement them and apprehend the lawbreakers. If Chairman Fernando and his team think that by doing these U-turns and Barriers it will lead to behavior modification, think again. If you do not EDUCATE and CHANGE THE MINDSET and the HEART then as soon as you take down the restraints, it�s anarchy all over again. Now, I must agree, in some areas the scheme may have worked but it still did not correct the bad Filipino habit of lane-grabbing at the U-turn slots still causing accidents and snarls. I would suggest that instead of spending on U-turn constructions and Concrete Barriers and wire fences, why not build and or spend on the following: (1) bigger impounding areas for apprehended vehicles, (2) Training Centers for Mandatory Driver�s Education before the release of confiscated licenses, (3) More detention facilities for reckless drivers and corrupt cops and traffic enforcers that tolerate reckless drivers for grease money or �tongs�, (4) �peoples� courts� that can handle traffic cases swiftly and allow motorists to air their view if the apprehension is questionable, (5) Bus, jeep, and taxi depots that are not within the main thoroughfares like the one the MMDA is planning to put up in NLEX, and (6) More motorcycles (fuel included) for Highway Patrol men to police the street of the metro. On the Bus Lane: Please understand Mr. Chairman that the way I understand the rationale for the Yellow Lane is to keep the Buses in check. It is to keep the buses in these two lanes and not go out of it and block regular motorist. But how many buses do we see outside this yellow lane? A LOT! I see no need to apprehend regular cars going into the yellow lane especially when it is free and unobstructed and when there are no Buses in the way. I would understand the reason for apprehension if a car is blocking a bus in the yellow lane however I have seen more cars apprehended going into the lane that Buses being caught going out of it. BAKIT! Remember, the yellow lane in for the Buses not to leave these lanes per se. But I guess, it�s easier for your MMDA boys to flag down a car that run after a careening bus. Furthermore, your rule for the yellow lane says that the only time a car can go into the yellow lane to make a right turn is within the few meters of dotted lines near the corner. Well, in my road rules and regulations this is called swerving. An experienced driver will tell you that the correct way to turn right safely is to go into the outer lane at least 1 block away so that you are ready to turn right as soon as you hit the corner. So you see your yellow lane application actually permits swerving that is wrong and dangerous. This same swerving in and out of lane also happens due to the many U-turn slots that people are forced to negotiate daily. Well here�s a solution for you. I echo Ms. Korina Sanchez and Ted Failon who said take out all the collorum buses and control the number of registered buses on the road and reinforce the MRT along EDSA. Just observe, when buses are not present, the traffic flows like butter on toast. On Male Urinals: Well, what can I say but this is as provincial as you can get. A throw-back to our ancient past. A glorified Out-house that shouts �If you can�t teach them, well, just tolerate them!� Anyway, their private parts are facing the wall�Okay na Yon! If I�m not mistaken, each unit is approximately Php 45,000.00. These were constructed to keep the men form urinating at electric posts, bushes, and walls. This is just so pathetic and it just underscores that some Filipino men are simply barbarian in their ways. Well, congratulations to the women who are decent and resourceful enough to find proper places to relieve themselves. Mr. Fernando, don�t you think that the cost for these urinals would have been better spent on decent, honest-to-goodness Public Toilets? And those men who can�t seem to hold it should be escorted to the nearest precinct and taught the correct manner and location for such a private affair. I�m afraid, however, that some of the MMDA Traffic Aides and Police Officers need educating in that area as well. By the way, how are the urinals now? Well, due to the lack of planning and funding, most of them stink to high heavens, are dented due to erring drivers, and have been defaced by vandals. Is anyone maintaining them? NO! I still have a lot to say but I guess I�ve made my point---FOLLOW THE LAWS, IMPLEMENT THE LAWS, and APPREHEND AND PENALIZE THE OFFENDERS. Then we will learn the hard way. We see this in Filipinos who go to the US. They follow because they know they can�t get away with it. Mr. Fernando, can�t we do the same??? In closing, Please don�t get me wrong Chairman Fernando. I do believe that you have the best of intentions for Metro Manila and the Philippines. I also believe that President Arroyo likewise honestly wants to see our dear nation rise from the ashes as the proverbial Phoenix. However, you simply cannot put a band-aid on a gapping wound. This band-aid approach of U-turns and Chicken-coop fences are mere palliative solutions to the gapping wound of lawlessness and �Ako Muna� attitudes that have scarred many of our fellowmen. The solution is a major operation of implementing the law and setting the rule aright which includes apprehending and correcting the felons and violators. And I�m not talking about the motorists or pedestrians alone. These should include all your erring MMDA officers and PNP�s Police Law Enforcers. You would probably say, �Mr. Cura, you must be dreaming! What you�re looking for is an ideal situation that is far removed from reality. Mahirap Yan kaya yung madali nalang muna.� Well, isn�t that why we have heroes or mga Bayani? Bayani sila because they chose the road less traveled. The hard road. �Kaya nga tayo may mga Bayani dahil sinuong nila ang Mahirap upang ipaglaban and katuiran at ang tama kahit ibuwis ang kanilang buhay!� (That�s why we have heroes because they forged all the difficulties to fight for what is righteous and correct even if it meant giving their life!) Chairman Fernando�Magpaka-BAYANI tayo! President Arroyo�Anong po ang gagawin nyo! Bayan Kilos Na! n About the Writer: Dan Andrew Cura is the President of the Far East Broadcasting Company, owner and operator of radio stations 702 DZAS-AM and 98.7 DZFE-FM, �The Master�s Touch� together with 8 regional stations and two International Short-wave sites beaming to Southeast Asia Dan Andrew was also the former anchor of the weekend edition of �ANC NEWS 7PM� and �The World Tonight� on the ABS-CBN News Channel (ANC). He has been in the Television Industry since 1994, starting with the morning show �Wake-up Call!� with Jeanne Young and Theresa Guanzon on RPN channel 9. He is also a Director of the Standards Authority of the Kapisanan ng mga Brodkater sa Pilipinas (KBP). n |