Edsa stories dominate social media

By Alvin Uy February 06,2016

patok2-620x349It’s been a great start for the automotive industry, with so many exciting new models and even new brands to be introduced in the market. 

Social media, however, continued to focus on the sensational, that is, stories about anything related to Metro Manila driving. Here’s a quick review.

MMDA turns to finger-pointing

Melvin Navarro, director of the Department of Public Works and Highways’ National Capital Region office (DPWH-NCR), showed displeasure with MMDA’s (Metro Manila Development Authority) Traffic Engineering head Neomie Recio after the latter  announced that the DPWH may start a flood control project on Edsa next month which could worsen traffic on the busy thoroughfare.

Saying “there is such a thing as interagency courtesy,” Navarro further said, “They’re making it appear [that] DPWH road projects are to blame for the traffic problems,” Navarro told the Inquirer.

“To think [that] the MMDA has not even approved this flood control project which has been pending with them since March last year.”

In defense, Recio said that she never blamed the DPWH for heavy traffic on Edsa. She clarified that she merely wanted to warn motorists to brace themselves for more bottlenecks once the department starts the drainage improvement project on a portion of the highway next month. Just like local politics, no one seems to want to own up to any responsibility.

 

LTFRB suspends jeepney franchise

A recent viral video of a public utility jeepney (PUJ) recklessly zigzagging along Marcos Highway caused the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) to suspended the PUJ’sfranschise for three months. 

The driver, Mark Trudy Bumanlag, was forced to showed up at the LTFRB office in Quezon City to explain, claiming it was his conductor who was behind the wheel at the time.

The viral video was posted by Mocha Uson of the entertainment group Mocha Girls, and the suspension took effect retroactively last January 20, with the PUJ’s front and back license plates surrendered by the operator to the LTFRB.

Permanent Edsa barriers

Over sixty private cars and 70 public utility buses were flagged down for violations a week after the MMDA started enforcing the yellow-lane restrictions on Edsa’s southbound lane. 

MMDA chair Emerson Carlos claimed that travel time for buses had been reduced by as much as 30 minutes on the country’s busiest highway. An erring bus driver is slapped a P200 fine while a private motorist pays P500 for the lane violation.

The yellow lane rule was proposed by the Edsa technical working group, which is composed of the MMDA, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group, LTFRB, Department of Transportation and Communications, and the DPWH.

MMDA’s Traffic Engineering chief Neomie Recio also announced that the plastic barriers currently used to separate lanes would soon be replaced with more permanent, concrete separators to be provided by the DPWH. 

Cabbie rage on the rise

The social media is full of rants about unpleasant and often scary taxi drivers who are arrogant and over-charge, and worse, those with violent tendencies. There was even one involving a sword-wielding cabbie.

LTFRB board member Antonio Inton Jr. said the incident was “alarming in the sense that illegal acts are no longer about overcharging or refusal to convey passengers. Now we’re talking about more violent acts such as attempted homicide. In other words, there are some drivers out there who are willing and ready to injure, and worse, kill their passengers.”

The recent rash of cabbie rage has led to some action. The House of Representatives’ committee on transportation has approved the “Bill of Rights of Taxi Passengers,” which requires drivers to be courteous, be free of alcohol or drugs, choose only safe and economical routes (or routes selected by the passenger), use only for the metered fare, and provide a receipt, among others.

Violators may be penalized through fines of up to P5,000 and suspension of license up to one year.

Even talkative cab drivers may soon be compelled under pain of a fine or suspension to keep quiet “upon request.” 

Passengers will also allowed to ask the driver to lower or raise the thermostat or “decide on the orientation of air-conditioning and lighting systems inside the taxi.”

The measure will also require taxi drivers to display an official identification card. Taxis should have the plate number and emergency numbers on the side door, and have a duly calibrated and sealed fare meter.

It also ensures that passengers with a disability will be able to ride a taxi with an animal assistant or portable mobility aids.

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