Carmageddon

It will be monstrous for sure – as monstrous as rush hour on a rainy, payday Friday. Imagine drenched commuters huddled under flimsy umbrellas amid the downpour while helpless motorists sit stuck in their cars, waiting for a miracle.

Indeed, we must brace for even heavier traffic on EDSA next month with the rehabilitation of Metro Manila’s main thoroughfare.

Preparatory works will begin on June 13, according to the Department of Public Works and Highways. To be rebuilt and rehabilitated will be the 23-kilometer southbound and northbound lanes of EDSA, said Public Works Secretary Manuel Bonoan.

Bonoan said the plan is to change the pavement, which will entail digging up the existing pavement on EDSA to replace it with new material that is more durable.

With the rainy season just around the corner, when traffic and commuting are so bad even without road works, I’m not sure this is the best time to rehabilitate EDSA but there is no doubt it has to happen.

Adding to our looming traffic woes is the planned closure of the Guadalupe Bridge, starting October 2025, for structural and seismic retrofitting.

The 1960s-era bridge has been deemed at risk due to structural cracks and is thus undergoing rehabilitation as part of the P7.8-billion Metro Manila Priority Bridges Seismic Improvement Project funded by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

With the rehabilitation of EDSA and the closure of the Guadalupe Bridge, it’s hard to imagine just how bad our daily routines going to and from our places of work will be.

But for sure, it will be as bad as it can be.

How it turns out may determine Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon’s future in government. If his office isn’t able to cushion the impact of this looming carmageddon on commuters and motorists, he may just find himself bearing the brunt of the public’s frustrations.

And that will all depend on the government’s game plan.

So far, these are the planned interventions: free use of some segments of Skyway Stage 3 for light vehicles; the deployment of additional MRT-3 trains to absorb the volume that will be displaced; the provision of additional buses, etc.

The MMDA, meanwhile, said it would implement the number coding scheme on EDSA as follows: Vehicles with plates ending in 1,3,5,7 and 9 are banned on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays while those ending in 0,2,4,6 and 8 will be prohibited on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays, according to NewsWatch Plus Philippines.

A reader, Alex Serrano, said other auxiliary measures such as staggered work schedules, implementation of carpools, more bike lanes and additional trains for LRT1, LRT2 and MRT3, etc., should also be implemented.

“This will mean additional sacrifice for private car owners but will reduce cars on EDSA by around 100,000, which will surely reduce the traffic for all road users or for the common good,” he said.

As for the Non-Contact Apprehension Policy, I argue – just as I did before – that given the state of Metro Manila’s roads, with all their potholes, dizzying signs and problematic lane markings, we are not ready for this system.

This will be problematic, for sure.

Phl embassy in Beijing busy doing business

Speaking of vehicles, I heard some good news from the Philippine embassy in Beijing.

During a recent forum organized for German businesses operating in China, the Philippine embassy highlighted opportunities in the Philippines in advanced manufacturing, automotive & new energy vehicles, as well as in agriculture.

The German Chamber of Commerce in North China and the AHK Greater China Diversification Desk, in collaboration with the Philippine Trade and Investment Center in Beijing, conducted the exclusive business forum last month.

“Located at the heart of Asia, the Philippines serves as a gateway to the dynamic ASEAN market and global trade routes. Our robust infrastructure development – through the ‘Build, Better, More’ program – has modernized ports, highway and logistics networks, ensuring seamless movement of goods and materials,” said Ambassador Jaime FlorCruz.

There have been business-friendly reforms, the Ambassador said, adding that “initiatives for foreign investors will not only enhance ease of doing business, but will also allow full foreign ownership in key industries.”

Commercial Counsellor Glenn Peñaranda said that moving forward, the Philippines aims to be a regional hub for smart and sustainable manufacturing and services, anchored on its geographic location, its abundant natural resources and the young, skilled labor force plus large domestic market, supported with market- and investor-friendly policies, including a recently issued enhanced incentives package through “CREATE More.”

“Together, we can foster stronger trade relations, drive innovation and create sustainable growth for both our nations. The Philippines is open for business – let’s build the future together!” Ambassador FlorCruz said.

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