Is There A Quick Solution To The Traffic In Metro Manila?

The traffic in Metro Manila seems to have already reached critical levels. A study done by the
Japan International Cooperation Agency revealed that the Philippines is losing P2.4 billion a day in
potential income due to traffic congestion that eats up time that could have been used for productive
pursuits. Personally, I travel to and from Batangas City regularly which covers a distance of about 114
kilometers. It usually takes me an hour to travel from Batangas City to Magallanes, but on the average
it takes me two hours to traverse the 11 kilometers of EDSA from Magallanes to Quezon City . The
economic loss, feeling of helplessness and hopelessness being stuck in traffic day in and day out is a
daily frustration. This is aggravated by the sight of blatant traffic violations, lack of discipline of the
motorists and pedestrians, and worse by the lack of action and non- enforcement by the MMDA of
even the most basic traffic rules and regulations.
The governments response has always been volume reduction measures and the claim that there is
a need for more infrastructures. Granted, volume reduction and more roads will help but enforcement
of existing traffic rules, regulations and discipline will cost so much less. It will be quicker to
implement and easier to impose.
MMDA Resolution 02-49, gave authority to the MMDA to adopt a No Physical Contact Program
in apprehending traffic violators in Metro Manila thru the use of digital cameras. Under the NPCP, an
erring motorist caught on tape would receive a notice from the MMDA containing the details and
photo of the violation. The violators are given a week to pay the fine and shall also have the right to
file a protest before the Traffic Adjudication Board. The traffic violators who fail to settle the matter
after second notice will have their names placed on the alarm list of the Land Transportation Office.
The use of the NCPC will minimize the occurrence of physical apprehension which also
contributes to traffic build up as well as prevent graft and corruption or "kotong". A p revious six
month trial implementation in 2009 resulted to a significant success in catching traffic violators
compared with the manual ticketing scheme. The MMDA recorded 74,626 NPCP apprehensions,
60,201 of which involved drivers of public utility vehicles. Active enforcement of the NPCP together
with a properly managed system of detection and penalties will force people to follow existing traffic
rules and regulations. When they realize that they will get fined and may even lose their licenses or
franchise, they will have no choice but to follow the law. Discipline will lead to order and ultimately
improve traffic flow.
The MMDA should be true to their mandate under Republic Act No. 7924, to administer and
implement all traffic enforcement operations. It must stop being an agency full of press releases of
new programs, which are neither sustained nor fully implemented. With the completion of phase one
of its state-of-the-art Traffic Signalization System (TSS) that monitors 150 CCTVs in the metropolis,
monitoring of traffic violations is now easier than ever. It should vigorously enforce existing laws
and impose road discipline. All the MMDA needs is the will to do it or a compelling force to make it
do its job. A petition for Mandamus anyone?