Rethinking required

Sometimes the most logical solutions can be the most illogical.

Consider for instance how in the Philippines, particularly in Metro Manila, the government has used engineering solutions to solve problems concerning pedestrian discipline. Recently I heard the MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino lament the fact that pedestrians are so undisciplined in spite of hundreds of millions invested in infrastructure.

Because of the prevalent Jaywalking, the MMDA past and present has resorted to constructing pedestrian over-passes or foot bridges. in spite of these multi-million peso investments, less than half ever use the bridges except in main intersections or truly dangerous roads. Motorists who use any highway know only too well about these Jaywalkers who endanger themselves as well as drivers and their passengers.

To solve this particular problem government officials decided to put up concrete walls, steel fences and even thorny plants all at an added cost millions. But being persistent as cockroaches, these Jaywalkers would walk around, climb over or even punch holes through the barriers. So in the end WE have spent hundreds of millions using logical engineering solutions but have failed again and again.

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Most Filipinos on the other hand, believe that the problem of discipline is less about the lack of discipline but the lack of enforcement. Even in the Bible, laws and discipline maintain validity only for as long as the leaders or enforcers are committed to enforcing discipline. Bridges and barriers merely direct or obstruct people but don’t enforce the law or validate the need for discipline. what we need are real enforcers not barriers.

There will always be law breakers and if we don’t have law enforcers we automatically have more law breakers. Strangely, people in government often say that they lack the personnel to hire “enforcers”. So how do they explain the hundreds of millions that government spends on pedestrian bridges and fences?

The problem is not really a lack of personnel or money but a problem of priorities. whatever expenses, investments or hiring any government agency does is based on an approved budget that is representative of what the administration or officials believe are their needs and priorities. Unfortunately government managers have been misled to think that they can run society the same way private enterprise efficiently runs corporations. that simply is not the case.

Governance is about people. To be practical about it, if government or even the MMDA in particular were to hire more enforcers, the cost can easily be reimbursed by collected fines from Jaywalkers and litterbugs, the benefit of multiplier effect for law enforcement and other such governance related activities. Another plus factor to this approach is that it somehow puts a dent on unemployment all across the country where pedestrian discipline is a endemic problem.

A clear, although unpopular example of enforcement by “enforcers” would be the deputized tow trucks that patrol Metro Manila. each truck has 3 to 4 men and sometimes even a police officer to insure enforcement and compliance. every time a tow truck hauls a vehicle it costs the owner a minimum of about P1,500. it’s a very stiff fine but because you have no choice you pay, you learn an expensive lesson and you avoid giving those thugs a second chance.

Judging from the continued and expanding operations of tow trucks, the fines are substantial enough to maintain tow truck operations.So either we increase the number of enforcers, privatize enforcement or end up having a spider web of walls, bridges and barriers until we end up looking like cows in a corral.

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Since the PNoy administration represents different minded thinking, I humbly suggest that the President and PNP Chief Nic Bartolome also rethink how Police Officers are deployed and operate. Instead of being on the look out for potential criminal activity only or hanging out in teams of four, we should make full or better use of them by spreading them out and using them in assisting with the enforcement of discipline.One cannot argue the fact that instilling discipline in the day to day affairs of citizens is a potent force in any nations’ crime prevention program, while police presence is a reassuring reminder to citizens.

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As much as I have been supportive of the MMDA under Chairman Tolentino and his predecessor Bayani Fernando, it just occurred to me that appointing people who come from a local government position particularly Mayors such as Fernando and Tolentino may also not be as logical as it first seems. what about considering true experts in Management, systems operations and enforcement? perhaps it is even time to reconsider what many nations have long been doing; having a Governor for Metro Manila.

NO I am not suggesting that Chairman Tolentino retires, but in terms of advanced planning and vision, we need to think 20 years from now. Even while he is still in office, it wouldn’t hurt to study and consider or even reconsider solutions both from the past and future. 

Yes we tried having a Governor of Metro Manila and it failed, but our past experiment with such were all done for political motives and not legitimate governance or management. it would be folly not to use or reuse the right tool just because others misused it and brought disaster upon us.

Recently, during the ADB Governors Conference, the MMDA displayed their ability to manage and enforce discipline along EDSA and the MOA - Roxas Boulevard area. They did this with numbers, political will and implementing an unpopular revised truck ban and preventing illegal loading and unloading of passengers. I congratulate the entire MMDA for their great effort and encourage them to do more.

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