Complacency can turn into disaster

Coming back from a trip to several cities in the US and Canada, it’s clear that we are so many moons away from being a first world country. Even if we have an impressive economic growth and investors are coming in, the quality of life for majority of Filipinos in many parts of the country has remained unchanged (many even say it has deteriorated according to a Pulse Asia survey), with the Philippines ranked 114th out of 187 countries in the 2013 Human Development Index report by the UN Development Program. Obviously the issue of congestion and traffic in Metro Manila remains to be the number one problem that needs to be solved. We badly need an efficient and integrated public transportation system.

In New York City, the subway system is the most efficient way to move around the city. One of the largest public transportation systems in the world with over 400 interconnected stations, the New York subway is cost effective and efficient, operating 24 hours a day and able to accommodate over 5 million passengers per day and 1.6 billion per year. It’s more than a century old, having opened in 1904 with the system properly maintained and constantly improved. In comparison, our MRT has miserably failed in all fronts.

A report by architectural data company Emporis cited the Grand Central Terminal in New York — described as an architectural masterpiece — as one of the 11 most spectacular train stations in the world. The 19-hectare terminal with its shops and restaurants has itself become one of the top tourist attractions in the US with 21.6 million visitors yearly.

Although traffic can be horrendous especially when protesters deliberately block the roads or when there is a major event like the recent UN General Assembly with US President Barack Obama and world leaders in attendance, somehow the New York authorities manage to get traffic flowing with a well-studied rerouting system to minimize the impact on the public. In fact, the NYC Department of Transportation gained the distinction of being the first in the world to employ an innovative technology for a traffic control system that can manage and control over 10,000 signalized intersections from one centralized management center — a feat that started with a vision.

In our case, our mass transport system, mainly the MRT-3 — is in such a mess with breakdowns and glitches occurring almost every day that riding it has become a risk to passengers. Aside from the hassle of enduring long lines and getting squeezed worse than sardines in the overcrowded coaches at peak hours, riding the MRT has become “buwis buhay” or life threatening because of serious safety issues. Just a few days ago, service was again disrupted with passengers getting stranded because of a broken rail track — which tells you just how much (or how little) maintenance is being done to keep the rail line in good condition.

When incompetent people running key departments refuse to resign despite public uproar because they are obviously unsuitable for the job, and the Palace insists on keeping them — then we really have a problem. PNP chief Director General Alan Purisima is an example of one who refuses to resign despite being in the hot seat for corruption and leadership issues. Everybody is convinced that Purisima is not being honest about his SALN, and are aghast at his cavalier attitude about receiving millions worth of “gifts.”

Once again, the PNP image is tainted by graft and corruption issues — not to mention the mounting complaints about crimes involving policemen. We can’t really blame people if they begin to seriously doubt the ability of the police to ensure public order and safety because the ones who are supposed to protect you from criminals are the ones committing crimes like kidnaping, hulidap and even murder.

Next year, we will be hosting the Asia Pacific Economic Forum with 21 heads of state and their respective delegations participating in ministerial meetings and the APEC leaders’ summit, so aside from managing the traffic, a major concern would be securing the safety of the delegates. In January, Pope Francis will be visiting Manila. AFP chief Pio Catapang says that the source of threat for the Pope would be the surge of adoring crowds and not the extremist group Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS). I totally disagree with General Catapang. I would rely more on intelligence provided by the FBI and the CIA. There is credible report that the Pope had been issued a “fatwa” (death sentence) by the ISIS. In 1995, an al-Qaeda plan to assassinate Pope John Paul II during his visit to Manila was exposed. The alarming part is that Pope Francis does not like riding in bulletproof pope mobiles. That alone should make authorities run scared.

There is no such thing as a full proof security. Even the US Secret Service tasked with protecting the President of the United States has had security lapses. Recently an armed intruder climbed the White House fence and was able to enter the East Room before being apprehended. Last month in Atlanta, a security guard riding the elevator with President Obama started acting like a fan, taking photos of the President. It was only when the Secret Service questioned him that they realized he was armed. The worst part is that they discovered later that the guard had a criminal record.

Next year the whole world will be watching the Philippines host two major events — the APEC Summit and the Papal visit. Our authorities better not be complacent if they don’t want things to turn into a disaster.

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