I WENT back to the Philippines as a balikbayan to study in a seminary in Cabanatuan City, Nueva Ecija.
Weekly, from Bulacan to Nueva Ecija, I drove a car and it took me about three hours to reach my destination. The problem, e.g. Baguio and other places in Luzon, is not so much about the conditions of the road but about the tricycles who hamper travel by using the national highways.
These tricyle [drivers], though they have the right to earn a living, are blocking the streets particularly in public palengkes or markets. Without these tricycles on the streets, I could have reached Cabanatuan within one-and-a-half hours. Lack of discipline and training for traffic rules compounded the problems — endangering both motorists and pedestrians.
Let’s not wait for some big disasters to happen — they are causing deaths and accidents in every part of the country. I urge the MMDA and the LTC to act on this nuisance and obstruction in our our national highway. I urge Mr. [Bayani] Fernando, who is doing a good job as MMDA chair, to travel more by car to those places to see these problems.
– Paddy Padilla, Carson, California (via e-mail)
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September 28th, 2007 at 2:59 pm
TRYCYCLES, JEEPNEYS, PEDAL-CYCLES, IS A GOOD EXAMPLE OF PINOY INEFFICIENCY AND “TAMA NA YAN ATTITUDE”. SOME PEOPLE CALL IT “FILIPINO INGENUITY” BUT ITS NOT, RATHER I CALL IT “FILIPINO STUPIDITY”.
THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH BOTH THE PEOPLE WHO MANAGE AND RUN THE COUNTRY AND THE WHOLE POPULATION.
THERE IS A CLASSIC EXAMPLE OF CHICKEN AND EGG PROBLEM THAT HAMPERS THE PHILIPPINES DEVELOPMENT. THE GOVT HAS NO BALLS TO IMPLEMENT LAWS THAT MAYBE DISADVANTAGIOUS FOR MANY IN A SHORT TIME BUT WILL EVENTUALLY PAYBACK BETTER RETURNS IN THE FUTURE.
IF WE MAKE OUR ROADS 2-3 LANES ON EACH WAY, 3MTRS ISLAND IN BETWEEN, AND MAKE 300MTR SETBACK BEFORE BUILDINGS ARE ALLOWED TO BE BUILT WE’LL GET THE BEST ROADS IN THE WORLD. CAN YOU SEE WHAT’S GOING TO HAPPEN HERE? NO POLITICIAN COULD EVER GET ELECTED TO DO THIS PROJECT BECAUSE HE LOSES THE VOTES FROM OWNERS OF LANDS WHERE THE ROAD PASSES. AND SECONDLY IT SEEMS WE DON’T HAVE ANYMORE HONEST POLITICIANS. WE ARE ONE OF THE MOST CORRUPT COUNTRIES IN THE WORLD.
WHAR A SHAME
September 28th, 2007 at 9:15 am
The Philippines is a unique country and every country has its uniqueness…. why question the attitudes of the tricycle drivers on the highway if that is how we been living our life on our road networks for so long. It may not come lightly or even safe to other people in other countries on how tricycles ply their roads, but for a Filipino living here, it works. Road education is our weakness when traffic is concern, from the drivers to the traffic enforcers and even to the government bureaucrats. Throwing mud at each other seems to be the only reaction when discussing this major problem that has been hounding us since we learn to put our foot on the pedal. Tricycles, jeepneys, buses, trucks and private cars, everyone deserves to be on these road networks. Everyone is earning a living. Limited road networks and congestion are the major factors. Expansion of road networks is quite a tall order. BUT congestion can be remedied. But it must come in each one of us….Our driving attitudes toward each other worsens the condition. Avoiding TAILGATING or the “tutok” habit will solve all our traffic woes. If each and everyone of us will be mandated to create a minimum of a 2-car space in front EVERY TIME, moving or stationary, we definitely will remove congestion. This spaces between cars will guide us drivers to maintain lane order and will allow tricyles or motorbikes to pass thru without hampering the traffic flow. Tailgating creates congestion, congestion builds and slows traffic. This is how the government should control our road networks, apprehend tailgaters. They are easy to find and to notice if everyone has a big space between each other. The traffic will flow if there are spaces created, pedestrians can easily cross when there are spaces and the drivers can yield ahead of time to avoid problems ahead. Emergency vehicles can pass through and lives can be save on time. But are we willing to contribute to the solution? Or will wait till whatever happens and just bicker to one another about how our country is being left out. Can we give space to one another??
September 26th, 2007 at 5:53 pm
Mga jeepney/tricycle drivers na walang muwang sa batas trapiko, mga drivers na walang respeto sa kapwa. dagdagan pa ng mga traffic enforcers na kotong at pabaya! yang mga yan ang tunay problema ng ating bansa, yang mga yan ang mga batik sa lipunan. ni wala ka nang makikitang pulis trapiko sa kalye..iniasa ng lahat sa mga baranggay tanod ang responsibilidad….kawawang Pilipinas
September 26th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Allergic sa tricycles and traffic? Please rent a chopper. Thanks
September 26th, 2007 at 3:33 pm
Mr. Balikbayan,
MMDA - means Metro Manila Development Authority. The route (highway) you’ve been traveling daily that is from Bulacan to Nueva Ecija is not a part of Metro Manila. Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.