Aquino proposes weekly odd-even scheme to solve PH traffic

[_Cathy_]

This will never see the light of day. It's beyond stupid!

'The most radical solution is to cut the number of cars plying the roads – cars with odd and even plate numbers would take turns every week,' says the President

MANILA, Philippines – Less than a year before he steps down, President Benigno Aquino III is still awaiting the proposals of different government agencies on how to solve the worsening traffic situation in the Philippines.

But for him, the "most radical" solution would be to implement an odd-even traffic scheme – a proposal that he said would surely elicit negative reactions, especially from car owners.

"Ang pinakaradikal...ay hatiin ang bilang ng bumibiyaheng sasakyan – salitan ang pagbabaybay ng odd at even na plaka sa ating mga kalsada kada linggo," Aquino said in his speech on Thursday, August 27, during the inauguration of a building at the Rizal Technological University in Mandaluyong City.

(The most radical solution...is to cut the number of cars plying the roads – cars with odd and even plate numbers would take turns every week.)

He added: "Pihadong luluwang ang trapik dahil kalahati ng sasakyan ang mawawala, pero sigurado pong marami na namang aalma dahil hindi magagamit ang kotse nila."

(This would surely decongest traffic because half of the cars won't be on the road, but many would surely oppose this because they won't be able to use their cars.)

Citing figures from the Department of Trade and Industry, he noted that a total of 1.2 million new motorcycles were bought in 2014 alone. In addition, more than 22,400 new vehicles are being purchased every month.

"Ang resulta po: siyempre, lalong siksikan sa kalsada. At natural, dahil sa trapiko, ang sasakyan at motorsiklo na pinag-ipunan mo nang husto, mas mabilis malalaspag dahil nakababad lang sa karbon," he said.

(The result: of course, roads will be packed. And naturally, because of the traffic, the car and motorcycle you saved up for will quickly wear away because of exposure to carbon.)

'Patience and understanding'

With the growing number of vehicles every year, the President said the "ideal situation" to the country's traffic woes is to build more bridges and to widen the roads. (READ: The Philippines and traffic jams)

But he admitted this would take years and countless discussions, especially when it comes to the issue of the right of way.

For instance, Aquino brought up again plans to retrofit the Guadalupe bridge – a similar example from his State of the Nation Address last July. He also mentioned another needed construction: a new bridge that will cross the Pasig River, from Global City to Shaw Boulevard.

But he lamented that both plans are facing opposition.

"Ganyan po ang kinakaharap natin.... Sa pagsasaayos ng trapiko, ang namamayaning kaisipan ay ganito: 'Okay kami sa solusyon, okay kami sa konstruksiyon, huwag lang kami ang maiipit sa implementasyon.'"

(That's what we are facing.... In fixing the traffic, the prevailing mindset is this: 'We are okay with the solution, we are okay with the construction, but we shouldn't be affected by the implementation.')

He appealed to the public to cooperate and be more patient and understanding.

In a separate statement on Thursday, Palace Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr said that, despite the challenges, government "continues to address the traffic situation." (WATCH: The cost of traffic in Metro Manila)

He also revealed that under Aquino's instructions, Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras is already consulting with "various stakeholders" in integrating "action proposals" from the following agencies:

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority
Department of Public Works and Highways
Department of Transportation and Communications
Philippine National Police

The Japan International Cooperation Agency estimated that the Philippines stands to lose up to P6 billion a day by 2030 because of worsening traffic jams.

[Alen94Raj]

Exactly! aside from call center agents, more motorists will be busy at night. And, then businesses will be open 24/7 just like 7Eleven. Cheers, the future is here.

[kimot]

they keep proposing/implementing temporary solutions to the problem. our government should think of a long term solution to ease the traffic, i know i will take time but nothing will happen if they keep on delaying their plans (if there's any)

[GTi]

Plain stupid. Many people would just buy a second car, and we're back to square one. With the current number coding scheme, many are already willing to buy a second vehicle just to use once a week. If they make it this way, all the more reason for even more people to procure another vehicle.

If they don't do something about the PUVs that cause bottlenecks kilometers long as they gather at the bottom of the footbridges, intersections, or any other place in the middle of the road that they deem as illegal terminals, there's not much else that they can do.

[SiPS]

IIRC, this had been implemented way back but for some reason, which I could'nt remember anymore, it became the number coding scheme we currently have. Can someone share what that reason was?

[StockEngine]

Please not this. We need more roads in metro manila.

[sirLancelot]

I think yung best way is dapat ma utilize yung night - early morning time. Pansin nyu pag madaling araw sobrang luwag pero pag umaga naman sobrang sikip.

[ninjababez]

PUV dapat pag higpitan nila. pag yan naayos nila sigurado maluwag kalye.
btw pag na push ba ito may window rin like current coding?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PUV dapat pag higpitan nila. pag yan naayos nila sigurado maluwag kalye.
btw pag na push ba ito may window rin like current coding?

[kimot]

PUV dapat pag higpitan nila. pag yan naayos nila sigurado maluwag kalye.
btw pag na push ba ito may window rin like current coding?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PUV dapat pag higpitan nila. pag yan naayos nila sigurado maluwag kalye.
btw pag na push ba ito may window rin like current coding?

ang nakikita ko kasi sa pinas masyadong madaming PUVs. trike, taxi, fx, jeeps, lalo na mga buses. sa mga developed countries bus at taxis lang nakikita ko.

magkaroon rin sana ng improvement ang mass transpo. dati ok saken mag MRT dahil mabilis, ngayon hirap na rin makasakay, at kung makasakay ka jampacked talaga yung mga tao. mas ok na lang saken na ma-stuck sa traffic at least comfortable.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PUV dapat pag higpitan nila. pag yan naayos nila sigurado maluwag kalye.
btw pag na push ba ito may window rin like current coding?

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

PUV dapat pag higpitan nila. pag yan naayos nila sigurado maluwag kalye.
btw pag na push ba ito may window rin like current coding?

ang nakikita ko kasi sa pinas masyadong madaming PUVs. trike, taxi, fx, jeeps, lalo na mga buses. sa mga developed countries bus at taxis lang nakikita ko.

magkaroon rin sana ng improvement ang mass transpo. dati ok saken mag MRT dahil mabilis, ngayon hirap na rin makasakay, at kung makasakay ka jampacked talaga yung mga tao. mas ok na lang saken na ma-stuck sa traffic at least comfortable.

[sientobente]

stupid proposal. i wonder bakit takot ang mga politiko to put the blame on PUVs? dahil nakakabawas ba ng boto nila? well infact, they are the one who causes those sudden stops, makes public roads their own parking lot, creates bottlenecks and at worst produce accidents around the metro.