Route maps for tourists, commuters

Lost and confused in Makati?

An office under the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said yesterday it would distribute route maps for tourists and commuters unfamiliar with Makati City’s transport system.

Yoshio Tanaka, MMDA-Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) senior urban development adviser, said free copies of the Makati City Area Transit Map (MCATM) would be made available at hotels, supermarkets, shopping malls and other tourist destinations.

JICA solicited the help of over 20 young Japanese volunteers who helped gather and verify data by taking various jeepney and bus routes in the area.

Tanaka said the plan would benefit both tourists and Filipinos, especially those who come from the provinces and those who often get lost and fall victim to unscrupulous taxi drivers.

"With the route map, commuters can find the cheapest and best routes," Tanaka said.

JICA, however, admitted Filipinos are not fond of reading maps.

They prefer to rely on traffic enforcers, policemen, cigarette vendors and jeepney barkers for directions even at the risk of receiving wrong information.

Tanaka encouraged Filipinos to familiarize themselves with map reading because in other countries it is the basic tool used for directions. In instances that they find themselves in a non-American speaking country, they could find their way around unfamiliar surroundings using a map.

The first route map in the country, it is expected to be duplicated in other areas in Metro Manila.

MMDA-JICA initially printed 10,000 copies and 50 larger maps to be posted along bus terminals, barangay halls and strategic areas. It has tapped the Makati Parking Authority to take charge of the circulation.

Malou Andrada, JICA executive secretary, said maps sold at bookstores often do not contain detailed info on public transport routes. Their plan was to include all legitimate routes of jeepneys and buses, but excluded tricycles and mega taxis because they have no fixed route.