Estella accident prompts traffic consultations
MANILA, Philippines -- After offering a P100,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of the bus driver responsible for the death of veteran journalist Lourdes E. Simbulan, known in print as “Chit Estella,” authorities will meet today to improve traffic rules on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City, where the tragic incident happened last Friday.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino said various stakeholders are invited on Mondays’s meeting with Quezon City traffic officials to take steps to improve road traffic schemes and penalties to prevent accidents such as that which killed Simbulan.
Speaking on-air in the MMDA’s radio program on DzBB, Tolentino said: Apart from the non-contact policy for traffic violators, we want to beef up traffic enforcers along Commonwealth road to also do contact apprehension or manual ticketing scheme.”
The agency is implementing “no physical contact policy” (NPCP) along Commonwealth in catching traffic violators. The system employs the use of digital and closed circuit television (CCTV) cameras in recording the violations of motorists.
Also the agency finds the NPCP effective in catching violators, Tolentino said he is considering to ask the national government to fund the procurement of motorcycle speed trackers to instantly catch violators.
“We need to deploy more motorcycle riding traffic enforcers that can easily go after erring violators and issue traffic violation tickets,” he said.
Tolentino admitted that the MMDA lacks the personnel to man the entire metropolis.
MMDA Traffic Engineering Director Neomie Recio said Commonwealth Avenue in manned by 99 traffic enforcers.
“There are only 1,600 traffic enforcers all over Metro Manila. We also have a number motorcycle riding enforcers but it is not enough to oversee the metropolis,” she added.
She warned the motorists to follow the imposed 60 kph speed limit along the main road, adding that, “the driver can easily control the brakes. A 100 kph speed limit can cause fatal accidents.”
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Comments
Living outside of the Phils. makes me realize why Metro Manila traffic is a 'monstrous problem'. The things that MMDA and traffic policemen should concentrate on fixing are the following:
1) Eradication of kotong system by providing a starting 15K monthly salaries for enforcers plus benefits at par with those multi-national companies offers. With this, they will not be tempted to accept bribes nor ask for it. Also, there should be a yearly review of their accomplishments with a corresponding increase in salaries (not only through promotion of ranks).
2) Implement the law, without any favoritism. To make sure this would be done correctly, issue cameras on the vehicles of the enforcers (mush like in the USA).
3) No contact apprehension is good only for speed checks or correct driving attitude on the road. But problem is if the vehicle is not properly registered, then this enforcement would not be successful. Make apprehension on the following day to quickly settle the problem made by the driver, else, the driver might think he was doing good unless he receives a ticket which will come after a week (?).
4) Please enforce to the maximum strictness the proper attire for public utility drivers (no slippers, no shorts, no sando) 24-hrs/7-days.
5) Apprehend vehicles that has broken/no lights, those which looks like 'coffin on the road', smoke belchers, those with bald tires, etc.
Lastly, we have so many college graduates who needs jobs. They are already trained in different fields of disciplines. It would not be a problem to train them in being traffic enforcers. A little shift in paradigm is all we need. Thank you!
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