Motoring Today Column

Jan 31, 2018

With this on going frenzy of construction of huge infrastructure projects, many of which significantly disrupt the already snail's pace traffic flow in many main thoroughfares, the motoring public can only depend on alternative routes to reach their destinations on time or to finally reach them at all.

Although I would doff my hat off to all those government agencies like the MMDA, HPG, etc. (I-ACT), including many LGUs that have been doing the Herculean task of clearing the metro's streets of obstructions especially illegally parked vehicles, I would still need to say that these effective street clearing operations should go relentlessly without fear or favor.

As a motorist exposed to the daily aggravation of traffic gridlocks and bumper-to-bumper vehicle crawl, I have benefitted from these street-clearing operations and have experienced first hand how like heaven it feels to breeze through streets sans obstructing parked vehicles, tricycles, pushcarts and in some extreme cases tents with neighborhood wakes.

Those who have been WAZE users for some time and who have been directed to take alternative routes to avoid gridlocks have experienced how hard it is to do a slalom in these narrow yet obstruction-clogged streets and how it feels like a walk in the park driving through those that have been cleared.

The presence of many illegally parked vehicles may eventually be solved when the government finally delivers an expansive and reliable public mass transport system. With such a long-time dream finally realized, who would want to still own a vehicle and face the problem of not having a place to park or to pay ridiculously high parking fees when you can travel anywhere in the metro on mass public transport?

So, build, build and build-but please finish them on time or at the very least, please finish them.

Some quarters may crucify me for saying this, but with all due respect to all those who may be negatively affected, the present efforts of I-ACT to clear the streets of smoke belchers and more importantly of dilapidated PUVs or rolling coffins has been long time coming.

Although a more fair way of effectively achieving the clean up goal is by not having them registered in the first place. With a strict implementation of vehicle registration requirements, smoke belchers or dilapidated vehicles will have no chance to be seen on the road. If we had a working Motor Vehicle Inspection System (MVIS) no way would any of these illegal vehicles be registered-therefore cannot run in our streets or ply their routes at all.

But that's all water under the bridge, so to speak. All these targeted vehicles have been registered already, off and running. This more tedious endeavor just needs to be done-by pulling over these easy to spot vehicles and get them off the road. But the process, according to some observers seems to leave a lot to be desired. It appears that the vehicles that been pulled over in very obvious dilapidated state should be impounded posthaste or run the risk of having wasted efforts by seeing them running again in a few days time claiming that this and that have been made "remedyo" or remedied whatever this and that defects that have been pointed out when they were pulled over-obviously a vicious cycle.

I hope this more practical process is not being done simply because there is no impounding area big enough to house all of these smoke belchers and rolling coffins. If it is-why not go get one? And make it easier for everybody.

The public has had it with all these smoke belchers and rolling coffins. Many have gotten sick because of the pollution they cause and many have lost their lives and limbs because of these unsafe dilapidated vehicles.

Enough said.

The jeepney modernization program had the public's concern paramount when it was conceived. The government wanted to phase out the country's cultural icon for transportation-the jeepney, to be replaced by modern and environment friendly vehicles.

But sadly its initial stage of implementation defeated its original laudable purpose by the inconvenience it caused to the targeted beneficiaries-the riding public.

Part of the modernization program is to rid the roads of unworthy vehicles counting among them those that do not conform to the legal emissions levels mandated by the Clean Air Act and those that are not safe for public conveyance, especially those that are fifteen years old or more.

When the purge was implemented last week most were caught unprepared and unaware, I guess including those who implemented it. The result was the unintended and unexpected shortage of PUVs resulting in commuters getting home late in the night.

So, where were the promised modern jeepneys that were supposed to replace the old ones?

I guess some things went out of sync or someone dropped the ball.

But everything is not lost. All part of the government's learning curve.

Let's just hope this won't be a long learning process.

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Happy Motoring!!!

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