Transport authorities are encouraging private motorists to leave their vehicles at home and instead use the public transport to ease traffic in the metropolis particularly the congested Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
Their proposal came on the heels of findings that the rising number of private vehicles was among the factors contributing to Metro Manila’s traffic mess.
But a number of private motorists interviewed by The Standard are not keen on giving it a try, for security and health reason.
“Taking a bus or a jeep is not safe and inconvenient nowadays. I will not allow myself and my children to meet or encounter criminals like the Laglag-Barya Gang, or holduppers or the like of Zesto Gang in the 80s, who sometimes kill their victims .. You are exposed to those criminals,” said Irish John Canlas of Antipolo City.
Manila-based accountant Patria Caldeo agreed that the increasing volume of private cars is one of the reasons for the traffic but “you cannot put the entire blame on private vehicle owners.”
Caldeo explained that she opted to buy a car because of its practicality and convenience for her four-year-old daughter who started school last year.
She added they are traveling seven kilometers (average of 20-30 minutes travel time) from house to her school and the fuel consumption for that ride cost about P20 to P30 depending on the traffic situation.
“When we use public transport, we’ll have to ride a tricycle, LRT and another tricycle which will cost us P95 and our travel time will be doubled. Our average daily travel is 30-kilometers and our weekly fuel consumption is 26 liters approximately or P1,000. This is much cheaper than riding public transport,” she said.
Caldeo added “If only the Philippines has efficient, comfortable and cheaper mass transports, maybe then we can leave our cars at home.”
“But until long lines just to get a ticket in a train won’t take you an hour, and boarding a train won’t take you another hour, until taxi cabs won’t be choosy and until jeepney operators will have better units maybe then we can trade the comfort, efficiency and practicality of our private cars.”
Tabloid managing editor Georg Orozco said the traffic problem is just like the theory of “which came first, the egg or the chicken?”
“Which came first, the traffic or the number of vehicles? The real problem here is that the government failed to do urban planning. If they did, it’s too late. They didn’t foresee what will happen, the problem is already there,” she said.
June Canlas, a lotto outlet operator in Sta. Rosa, Laguna, said people like him bought cars because they want privacy and they feel it’s better for them to encounter traffic as long as they feel safe and convenient.
“When you encounter traffic, at least you are inside your own car and safe. Kaysa naman natrapik ka makakapulot ka pa ng sakit galing sa di mo kilalang tao, isama mo na ang usok at alikabok… besides, groceries are kind of heavy you know and malls are far away,” he said.
Chairman Emerson Carlos of the Metro Manila Development Authority said the government’s Premium Point-to-Point Bus Service scheme will be the answer to what the people need in terms of safety and convenience when traveling along Edsa.
He added that the P2P service allows shorter travel time, as bus units depart on a fixed schedule and travel directly from the terminal to the drop-off point.
The project was initially implemented from Dec. 6, 2015 until Jan. 6, 2016 to decongest Edsa during the holiday travel rush.
The Department of Transportation and Communications decided to extend the operation following positive result of the program, given the increase in ridership over the holidays.
Fares for the express bus schem recently reduced to allow more passengers to avail themselves of the service.
The government asked motorists to try using the non-stop bus service, saying the scheme is one of the medium-term solutions to improve traffic on Edsa and a way of increasing efficiency of the use of the streets.
Carlos said with the 120,000 new private vehicles in Metro Manila last year, it would be necessary to improve the travel time of commuters.
The express bus picks up passengers from Trinoma, SM North Edsa in Quezon City and SM Megamall in Mandaluyong City and bringing them to Park Square Ayala Center, Glorietta 5 and Park Square Terminal all in Makati. The fares range from P40 to P60.
It starts daily operation around 6 am. with trips every 30 minutes. The last trip will be around 10 pm. on either directions.