Noy on traffic: How about reviving odd-even scheme?

MANILA, Philippines - President Aquino believes the odd-even scheme is the most radical solution to Metro Manila’s traffic problems but he expects strong opposition from the public if this is implemented.

The President gave assurance that an action plan was being drafted to address the problem as he appealed anew for patience and understanding while solutions were being finalized.

But Valenzuela Rep. Sherwin Gatchalian said the Aquino administration does not appear to have a master plan to solve the worsening traffic situation in the metro and nearby provinces.

“The Aquino government should present to the public concrete solutions with timelines of deliverables on how they will manage the heavy traffic. Are they going to build more roads? Are they going to implement a new traffic scheme? Are they going to limit the number of car purchases?” Gatchalian said.

Sens. Juan Edgardo Angara and Ferdinand Marcos Jr. cited the need to enforce discipline on the road in order to ease traffic conditions in Metro Manila.

Angara said there must be accountability on the part of the officials involved in traffic management, while Marcos stressed that the situation has clearly gone from bad to worse when “a Catholic cardinal, who normally devotes himself to spiritual concerns, has to call the government’s attention to address the daily traffic hell.”

“Construction of new roads and fixing the trains will take some time, but traffic congestion can at least be partly solved by consistently enforcing discipline on our roads,” said Marcos, who chairs the Senate committee on public works.

In a speech during the inauguration of the 11-story Sen. Neptali Gonzales Academic Hall of the Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City, Aquino said the volume of vehicles and the ongoing infrastructure projects were causing the traffic gridlocks in metro streets.

He cited a Department of Trade and Industry report, which said 22,400 new vehicles and 100,000 motorcycles are acquired every month. In 2014, 1.2 million new motorcycles started traversing the roads and worsened traffic congestion.

He added he was aware of the traffic congestion’s ill effects on private vehicles’ condition.

“The ideal situation is to build additional bridges and widen roads. But even this will take a few years to be implemented along with dreadful discussions, especially on the issue of right of way,” Aquino said.

The President cited as example the need to retrofit Guadalupe Bridge that was opposed because of its effects on traffic condition on EDSA and nearby areas.

He said Guadalupe Bridge could accommodate 200,000 vehicles a day but because of the traffic, 250,000 cars would get stuck in the area daily.

“This is really beyond the capacity of the bridge. That bridge needs retrofitting because it might collapse during an earthquake. There is also a need to construct another bridge that will cross Pasig River from (Bonifacio) Global City to Shaw (Boulevard), but there are those opposing it because they will be the ones inconvenienced,” he added.

Aquino said the most radical proposal to solve the traffic woes is to halve the number of vehicles plying Metro streets by implementing an odd-even scheme. He called on the citizenry to work with government in implementing practicable solutions, saying everyone’s input and cooperation are important, as solutions could not be enforced right away. 

“We need to unite and view the situation with patience and understanding. With all of us contributing our best efforts, we will certainly share in enjoying the fruits of progress,” he claimed.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Secretary Jose Rene Almendras, on Aquino’s instructions, had been conducting consultations with various stakeholders to integrate action proposals from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority, Department of Public Works and Highways, the Department of Transportation and Communications and the Philippine National Police.

The odd-even scheme is partially implemented by the MMDA under certain circumstances to avoid traffic congestion, such as during Holy Week or Christmas holidays.

Under the MMDA’s previous proposal, vehicles with license plates ending in odd numbers (1, 3, 5, 7 and 9) shall not be allowed on EDSA on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and those ending in even numbers (2, 4, 6, 8 and 0) on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays.

JICA study

Last year, the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board, chaired by the President, approved the “Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Its Surrounding Areas.”

The study, done by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in close coordination with DOTC, DPWH, MMDA and other relevant agencies, cited strategies to reduce traffic congestion significantly before it impacts on the lower-income group who will be hardest hit when congestion worsens by 2030.

The JICA study concluded that without intervention, traffic costs will likely increase to P6 billion a day, from today’s P2.4 billion. JICA said the study would show possible ideas, technologies and strategies that could help the Philippines address traffic congestion and air pollution in Metro Manila.

Preliminary analysis in the study showed that average low-income group households have to spend no less than 20 percent of their monthly income for transport. Without intervention, traffic demand will likely increase by 13 percent by 2030, and transport cost will be 2.5 times higher.

Among the strategies listed in the JICA study at the regional level are spreading economic activities to other potential growth areas including balancing development of agriculture, manufacturing, and services, protecting prime agricultural areas for food security, avoiding urban sprawl in hazard risk areas, promoting growth of regional centers, strengthening connectivity and improving public transport services and logistics.

Fatal

Gatchalian said the congestion could be fatal during medical emergencies or when ambulances cannot get swiftly through primary and secondary roads. – With Marvin Sy, Janvic Mateo, Paolo Romero