MANILA, Philippines - The move of the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to bring back the odd-even scheme to EDSA is an attempt to tame the heavy traffic that adds to the cost of road travel through more gasoline consumption, frayed nerves, tired workers and underutilization of public land transport. However, any initiative to curb the traffic congestion should not be taken in isolation of the totality of the transport situation in Metro Manila, if not the whole country. In Metro Manila, enforcement of traffic rules and regulations should take priority. This means putting more traffic policemen on the streets on a sustainable basis, not the ''now you see them, now you don't'' system. Weaving and swerving motorists, especially the private car drivers should be penalized.
Buses, jeeps and public transport should keep to their lanes. Motorcycles and scooters should have their own lane and should keep to that lane. So many accidents are due to the propensity of the motorcyclists to dart from one lane to another with irresponsible abandon. Tricycles should not be allowed in major roads and national highways. The stakes should be increased for non-compliance. Besides the fines, insurance premiums should be increased depending on the number of traffic violations incurred and on the gravity of the offense. Bus terminals should be relocated outside the center areas of the city. An example is the bus terminals along EDSA in the Cubao area, which add to the daily traffic snarls. In the provinces, we already see how the terminals are distant from the city or town centers.
This leads to the development of new areas and the opening up of business opportunities for retail establishments, restaurants and local transport operators. Having scheduled runs for buses will result in faster flow of traffic since the long line of buses waiting for passengers will be eliminated. Well synchronized with the secondary lines of jeepneys and tricycles, such a system will result in bringing commuters to their destinations faster and with less inconvenience. The rhythm and pattern of the transport flow will induce discipline in the commuters who will know that when they take a bus at this time, they will be at their destination by a specified time because the driver will not wait too long for passengers. A commuter may avoid scrambling for a bus ride knowing that in 15 minutes, another bus going to the same destination will be arriving. Further development of the rail system should be prioritized. It is the most economical and fastest transport system.
However, fares should be increased in order to lessen the subsidy of government and make the riding public value the service provided. The Trinoma Mall, EDSA Shangri-La Mall and Manuela Mall concept should be replicated since it allows a private car driver to park the vehicle in the mall's parking lot, take the light rail to the destination in the morning and then come back using the same system. Imagine how much of private car traffic is removed from busy EDSA. In the city's inner core, new buildings should not be constructed without adequate parking facilities. Street parking should not be allowed or should be levied high parking fees both in the morning and evening. This will encourage entrepreneurs to build multi-story parking facilities. And just like in Japan, vehicles left outside private residences should pay parking fees to the local government or to their subdivision association.
These may look like spots of recommendations but taken together they restore order in the streets and tame the traffic. Business Bits. We support DTI Secretary Gregory Domingo's pronouncement of a review of restrictions due to political considerations that make it difficult for project proponents to increase fare or toll rates in the area of railway and toll projects.
