MMDA

Bida Ka!: Solusyon sa trapiko

Mga Bida, noong Lunes, humarap na sa pagdinig ng Senado ukol sa matinding problema ng trapiko sa Metro Manila ang matataas na opisyal ng pamahalaan na nagtutulung-tulong para resolbahin ito.

Kabilang sa mga dumalo sa pagdinig sina Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras, Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya at Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Francis Tolentino.

Sa kanilang pagdalo, naging masigla ang diskusyon sa ikalawang pagdinig at naging detalyado ang iprinisintang short-term at long-term na programa at proyekto para maresolba ang trapiko sa Kamaynilaan.

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Sa mga unang araw, tinutukan ng task force ang pagbalik ng disiplina at sa mga lansangan, gaya ng paggamit ng yellow lane, pagsakay at pagbaba ng mga pasahero sa tamang lugar at pag-alis ng illegal vendor sa mga sidewalk at iba pang sagabal sa trapiko.

Ang mga hakbang na ito ay planong suportahan ng task force ng iba’t ibang pangmaikliang programa upang mabigyan ng agarang solusyon ang sitwasyon ng trapiko sa kahabaan ng EDSA.

Una sa mga programang pinag-aaralan ng task force ay ang staggered work hours upang hindi magsabay-sabay ang pag-uwi ng mga empleyado at paglalagay ng espesyal na linya sa EDSA para sa mga sasakyang may lulang tatlong katao pataas.

Plano rin ng task force na maglagay ng Mabuhay lanes na gagamitin sa biyahe ng 20 pinuno ng iba’t ibang bansa sa APEC Summit. Ito rin ay magsisilbing alternatibong ruta sa pamamasyal ng ating mga kababayan sa Kapaskuhan.

Sa mga susunod na linggo, isa-isang ipatutupad ng task force ang mga programang ito upang malaman kung ito’y epektibo o hindi.

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Noong Martes naman, mga Bida, muling ipinatupad ng MMDA ang truck ban sa Kamaynilaan, kung saan bawal bumiyahe ang mga truck mula alas-sais hanggang alas-10:00 ng umaga at alas-singko hanggang alas-10:00 ng gabi, maliban sa ruta palabas sa hilagang bahagi ng bansa.

Paliwanag ni Chairman  Tolentino ay muli nilang ipinatupad ang regulasyon na nabuo noon pang 1978 dahil naresolba na ang problema sa port congestion.

Ang pagpapatupad sa truck ban ay bahagi rin ng paghahanda para sa seguridad ng mga delegado sa APEC Summit at mapaluwag ang EDSA na nadagdagan ng sasakyan dahil sa ginagawang Skyway 3 na bumabagtas sa ilang malalaking kalye sa Kamaynilaan.

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Batay sa pag-aaral, ang pagdami ng tao at mga sasakyan sa Kamaynilaan ay larawan ng isang maunlad na ekonomiya. Ngunit kasabay ng paglagong ito, hindi dapat hayaan na mauwi ito sa trapiko at pagsisikip ng Metro Manila.

Kaya tinututukan na rin ng task force ang mas madaling pagbiyahe ng mga commuter sa pamamagitan ng pagpapabilis sa high-occupancy vehicles gaya ng bus at tren.

Kung ating titingnan, ang isang bus na dalawang kotse ang haba ay kayang magsakay hanggang animnapung katao. Wala pang sampu ang kayang isakay ng dalawang kotse na may katumbas na espasyo gaya ng isang bus.

Mababawasan ang mga kotse sa kalsada kung mayroon tayong maayos at mabilis na mass transport system. Kung mapapaganda ang serbisyo ng MRT sa susunod na mga buwan, mas marami ang mahihikayat na sumakay rito.

Sa gitna ng mga plano’t programang ito, kailangan ding gawin ng mga motorista at pasahero ang kanilang bahagi, gaya ng disiplina sa pagmamaneho at mahabang pasensiya ng lahat.

Tandaan, ang pagsunod sa batas ay obligasyon ng lahat at hindi ng iilan. Sabi nga ng HPG, isa sa mga dahilan ng trapiko ay ang katigasan ng ulo ng mga motorista.

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Nagpapasalamat tayo sa HPG, MMDA, kay Secretary Almendras at iba pang mga ahensiya ng pamahalaan sa kanilang pagkakaisa at pagsisikap na mapaganda ang daloy ng trapiko sa EDSA.

Ngunit pinakamahalaga pa rin ang suporta ng taumbayan sa ikatatagumpay ng mga programang inilatag ng task force.

Ilang beses na nating napatunayan na kapag nagsama-sama at nagkaisa ang lahat, tiyak ang tagumpay ng isang bagay at mas mada­ling ayusin ang gusot at problema.

Kaya bigyan natin ng pagkakataon ang pamahalaan na ipatupad ang mga programang ito, dahil ito rin ay para sa ating kapakinabangan kapag nagtagumpay!

 

First Published on Abante Online

 

Bam: Losses to Heavy Traffic to Reach P6B by 2030

If not fully addressed immediately, a senator warned that economic losses due to heavy traffic in Metro Manila could balloon to P6 billion a day from the current P2.4 billion by 2030.

For this reason, Sen. Bam Aquino has filed a resolution seeking to review the existing Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development to formulate effective strategies and solutions to address the negative economic impact of the worsening traffic conditions in Metro Manila.

“Commuters as well as private vehicle owner suffer the monstrous and extremely costly traffic every day in Metro Manila,” Sen. Bam stressed in his Senate Resolution No. 1532, citing a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA)

The study entitled, “Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Surrounding Areas,” was conducted in coordination with the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), and other relevant agencies.

The roadmap was approved last Sept. 2, 2014 by the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA) Board.

According to the study’s preliminary analysis, Sen. Bam said the lower-income households will be the hardest hit when congestion worsens by 2030 as they will spend no less than 20 percent of their monthly household income for transport.

“Without intervention, traffic demand will likely increase by 13 percent in 2030, and transport cost will be 2.5 percent higher,” Sen. Bam said.

According to Sen. Bam, relevant government agencies and local government units must contribute to the crafting to an effective planning strategies and traffic management systems in order to improve traffic conditions in Metro Manila.

“The MMDA cannot solve the worsening traffic condition alone. The DPWH, Land Transportation Office (LTO) and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulating Board (LTFRB), and the private sector must also do their share in solving the dilemma,” said Sen. Bam.

Among the factors that contributed to the worsening traffic condition is the significant population increase in Metro Manila which now stands at 16.5 million.

“Maaantala ang ating kaunlaran kung ang araw-araw na biyahe ay ikalulugi ng ating mga mamamayan at ng buong bansa,” added Sen. Bam, a micro, small and medium enterprises’ welfare advocate.

Bam: Improve Philippine Transportation Infrastructures and Coordination

To avoid a repeat of the inconvenience experienced by millions of Filipinos and foreigners who traveled during last year’s Christmas holidays, a senator wants the government to focus on the improvement and integration of major transportation infrastructures.

In his Senate Resolution No. 1115, Senator Bam Aquino calls for an inquiry on the prioritization of transportation infrastructure projects and the efficiency of systems management in seaports, airports, expressways and national roads to streamline its operations to improve the services to the public.

“There is a need for the government to improve its limited network of seaports, airports and expressways so as not to inconvenience the transport of passenger and goods to different parts of the country,” said Sen. Bam, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

Sen. Bam’s resolution will be tackled on March 4, 1 p.m. by the Committee on Economic Affairs.

During last year’s holiday season, millions of Filipinos and foreigners experienced heavy traffic and congestion in major ports, airports and toll ways in the country.

Based on news reports, massive traffic was recorded during the holiday rush in the South and North Luzon Expressways. The traffic was attributed to the slow processing of toll payments in the tollgates.

Furthermore, the public had to stop at several tollgates within a short distance and this resulted to the build-up of cars in the expressways.

Flight cancellations and delays were also reported during the recent holiday break in major airports in the country.

In addition, port congestion continues to be a problem with the Manila International Container Terminal (MICT) at 86 percent and South Harbor Terminal at 91 percent, far from the ideal utilization level of 70 percent.

Sen. Bam said the government must conduct a periodic planning process that will identify critical road segments and undertake feasibility and economic analysis to determine the investment and improvement in the transportation infrastructure system.

“Different government agencies such as the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) need to intensify their inter-agency work plan and strategy in order to address the recurring heavy traffic in the flow of goods and passengers in the country,” the senator said.

Sen. Bam stressed that ground and air transportation infrastructures are crucial for economic development, domestic and foreign investment, and the growth of the tourism industry, as well as job creation, which are necessary to reduce poverty in the Philippines.

“The quality, adequacy and accessibility of infrastructure facilities and services are needed in order to achieve efficient movement of people and goods, and this ultimately impacts on the country’s competitiveness,” he said.

Speed Up Decongestion of Port to Ease Traffic – Sen. Bam

Senator Bam Aquino called on the government to speed up the process of port decongestion so as not to further burden the motorists and commuters who are already affected by the everyday traffic jams in Metro Manila.

“While decongesting Port of Manila is important, we must also guarantee that the public interest and welfare will not be compromised,” said Aquino, chairman of the Senate Committee on Trade, Commerce and Entrepreneurship.

At the same time, the lawmaker called on concerned government agencies and local government units (LGUs) to ensure that traffic enforcers are in place to help alleviate the traffic problem.

Aquino also appealed to the public to bear with the heavy traffic in the next two weeks due to the government’s campaign to decongest the Port of Manila.

“We ask the public to further stretch their patience as the government solves the port decongestion problem that we are facing right now,” said Aquino.

Aquino said the government has no other recourse but to implement drastic measures to decongest the country’s main port, saying this problem will worsen if not immediately addressed.

“Many businesses will be affected and prices of goods will go up if this port congestion problem persists and we must not allow this to happen,” the senator explained.

Aquino said the public would ultimately benefit once the port congestion problem is solved.

From September 8 to 21, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will implement the last mile route, which will enable trucks to ply main roads, even during truck ban hours, provided that they carry cargo for shipment to their designated end-points.

Last month, Aquino’s committee investigated the port congestion problems and came up with several proposals to help solve the problem.

During the hearing, the city of Manila agreed to open more trade lane routes for trucks while concerned government agencies committed to work during weekends to hasten the releasing process in the port.

Sen. Aquino’s committee is expected to visit the Port of Manila later this month to check if there are improvements or if additional changes are necessary.

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