Mar Roxas Vows To Find Solutions to Traffic Problems in Metro Manila

How to solve the traffic problem in Metro Manila is the multimillion-peso question that our government is still struggling to find the answer to.  There have been many attempts to solve or at least lighten the traffic condition especially in EDSA, Metro Manila’s main artery in the past, by different administrations; however, with hundreds of thousands of cars added yearly, the traffic problem has compounded and this is affecting greatly our economy.   Our government loses millions or even billions of pesos when productivity suffers because of delays caused by traffic.  Our officials cannot simply scratch their heads and hope for the solution to fall on their laps out of nowhere.   It’s time to get a few ideas from our experienced neighbors. 

How does Bangkok manage its traffic situation and how does Singapore maintain order on its roads  despite being a tiny nation?  They both have an efficient mass transport system that the government runs and manages.   Bangkok’s train system within the city is clean, comfortable and well-managed;   I wish I can say the same for our three train lines.     Being a commuter myself, I will not mind paying premium amount if I will be in a safe and clean environment.   Safety is everybody’s main concern.  Recently, we saw videos of the old LRT with defective doors and we hear news of our MRT conking in the middle of the tracks.  This is tantamount to subjecting our commuters to an abusive situation and this is unacceptable because public safety is a responsibility of the government. 

Singapore, on the other hand, has very strict laws when it comes to selling and purchasing cars.   No one is allowed to own/purchase a car or any vehicle unless he also purchases a parking lot for it.  This will never happen in the Philippines.   The government agency that issues car licenses will never implement this law, if there is one.  Hence, we see cars parked on the roadsides which add to the congestion of roads.

“Presidentiable” Mar Roxas from Daang Matuwid has expressed his plans in resolving the traffic problem by constructing a train system that is at par with international standards and most of all, a public transport system that is run by the government and not politicians and select businessmen.   I wish “presidentiable” Mar would include stricter implementation of traffic laws in his plans like fining and impounding smoke-belchers that not only make everyone’s life miserable but also destroy the atmosphere.