Transport groups slam possible revival of odd-even scheme to solve metro’s traffic woes

MANILA, Philippines - Transport groups on Friday slammed the proposal of President Benigno S. Aquino III to revive the implementation of the “odd-even” scheme as a possible solution to the present traffic woes of Metro Manila.

George San Mateo, national president of the Pagkakaisa ng mga Samahan ng mga Samahan ng Tsuper at Opereytor Nationwide (PISTON), said the revival of the odd-even scheme would greatly affect their livelihood as public utility vehicles.

San Mateo instead suggested that government instead focus on maintaining a dependable mass transport system such as rail-based ones.

“At present we have the Metro Rail Transit (MRT), the Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the trains being run by the Philippine National Railway. But these trains often break down,” he said.

San Mateo also branded the president’s recent proposal as a “band-aid” solution to Metro Manila’s traffic problems.

“In the president’s desperation to clear the streets, he has arrived at an artificial solution with the forced banning of vehicles from the streets without the necessary modern mass transport system to accommodate the displaced commuters,” San Mateo said.

San Mateo added that even with the “odd-even” scheme in effect, there would still be congestion in the Metro’s streets as affluent motorists would simply buy more vehicles which they could use when their “regular” vehicles would be kept off the roads three times a week.

“The only people who would benefit from Pnoy’s proposal are the rich motorists who could buy more cars,” he said.

Efren de Luna, president of the Alliance of Concerned Transport Operators (ACTO) also said the proposed “odd-even” scheme could inflict a heavy blow on drivers and operators of public utility vehicles.

“It would be better if the present number coding system is just modified,” he said.

Under the present number coding system, vehicles are only kept of the streets for just one day depending on the last digit of their license plates.

De Luna also raised the possibility that with more public utility vehicles eased out of the Metro’s streets because of a revived “odd-even” scheme, private motorists might field more vehicles for hire using a rideshare application like uber.

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.

In his 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.

“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.

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. 

Under a previous proposal by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), 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.