Motoring Today Column

Aug 07, 2019

The big news last week should not have been news at all. Clearing roads of obstructions so that vehicles can use them is a no-brainer. Roads are for vehicles, right? Or, has that piece of logic been shelved for the interest of private citizens - or voters - who are claiming the sidewalks?

But that was big news all the same, with newspapers, television, radio, online and social media covering the road clearing actions of the local government units and the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA ).

The action took urgency after President Rodrigo Duterte, in his recent State of the National Address ( SONA), had ordered the clearing of roads. Right away, other government departments, agencies and LGUs followed the order. All of that action is being done to claim what has rightfully been public space devoted to roads, where vehicles are meant to run smoothly.

In the many years of neglect - or tolerance - many sidewalks had been taken over by private enterprises. It does not need a scientific study to determine how traffic flow is affected when vehicles slow down when approaching a road where a lane - or even just part of a lane - is taken by parked vehicles owned by customers of enterprises like a car service shop, vulcanizing shop, sidewalk vendors, eateries and make-shift tricycle terminals or jeepney stops. Look around you, the obstructions to roads have been ignored too long, they are now tolerated as part of the roads.

And so, the clearing operations go on. First, we see them where the public sees most of the obstructions - at Baclaran, Divisoria, and many other "shopping" alleys created when a mob of vendors with cleverly designed carts on wheels appear quickly after a clearing operation. In the last operation, the enforcers were seen destroying the wheels of the vendors' carts, a feeble attempt to keep them from moving and claiming the roads after the authorities are gone.

Recently, MMDA officials to their laudable visited Baclaran together with mayors of Parañaque and Pasay to oversee clearing operations in the area.

According to MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim, the agency will do regular clearing operations at the 17 Metro Manila local government units to make sure that all roads will be free from obstruction within the timeframe of theDepartment of Interior and Local Government ( DILG). At this point, I deem it politically correct to give credit where credit is due, sometime in the not so far past, a strong-willed man named Bayani Fernando stood head high and distinguished to declare that the sidewalk is for the exclusive use of pedestrians and he started the bold move without fear or favor to give the sidewalks back to the public.

"There would be no let-up in our operations as the DILG gave us orders to reclaim the roads for 60 days. We will ensure that these will be done daily to fast track clearing of all roads," he said.

Mayors Edwin Olivarez of Parañaque and Imelda Calixto-Rubiano of Pasay both committed support to the MMDA on its bid to make all roads obstruction-free while looking for ways to relocate the vendors.

In Pasig and Pateros,MMDA Chairman Danilo Lim,MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia,DILG Undersecretary Nestor Quinsay Jr.,Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto, and Pateros Mayor Miguel "Ike" Ponce supervised the clearing operations.

MMDA has also become bolder in its clearing operations. Last week, its personnel from the MMDA Sidewalk Clearing Operations Group demolished a security outpost located at the intersection of San Joaquin, Pasig City.

The clearing operations also included the removal of illegally-parked vehicles in the area. Illegal vendors were also given final warning by the authorities. It also discovered the presence of an illegal terminal near the drive thru of a fast-food chain also in Barangay San Joaquin.

At the pace the MMDA and the LGUs are clearing roads, motorists should by now be feeling the effect of smoother traffic flow especially in the secondary roads where small businesses had claimed parts of the public roads. We are inviting motorists to send in their comments on the effects - or non-effect - of the clearing operations to reclaim public roads.

Hino joins PUV Modernization Program

Hino Motors Philippines (HMP) recently participated in the 4th Transport Cooperative National Congress held duringPhilbus and Truck 2019 at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, where they presented their models of the modern PUV.

In addition to being an exclusive distributor of premium trucks and buses, Hino has expanded into modern jeepneys, manufacturing one of the first batches of PUV units in compliance with the requirements set by the Bureau of Philippine Standards.

The first set of PUV units from Hino incorporates a speed limiter, safety features, GPS, CCTV, dashboard-mounted camera and Beep card system to offer both driver and passengers a more comfortable and safer riding experience.

Hino turned over its first modern jeepneys toTaguig Transport Cooperative and Pateros-Fort Bonifacio Transport Cooperative in July 2018. Since then, Hino has turned over more than 100 modern jeepney units to several transport cooperatives inTaguig, Pateros, Makati, Quezon City and Iloilo.

Hino is currently in talks with several other transport groups interested in upgrading their fleet to modern jeepneys. It is set to turn over several modern jeepney units to two transport cooperatives in Manila in the coming weeks.

Happy Motoring!!!

For comments & inquiries:

(email) sunshine.television@yahoo.com

(website) www.motoringtoday.ph