MAYBE those people in some agencies tasked by President Duterte to solve the traffic problems in Metro Manila area and other urban centers in the country remorselessly realized that the horrendous situation is beyond their braggadocio. Please never put a deadline.
There was a photo posted on Facebook of two intersecting on highway filled with sorts of cars in a bumper to bumper situation. And guess how many likes it got? No, it didn't get viral, but got a hundred in a day.
It only goes to show that many people are getting pissed off daily in battling traffic waiting long hours on the road, missing their appointments and get irritated by undisciplined drivers who weave in and out and wanted to be ahead of everybody.
Pity those school children who wake up so early to catch their early morning class only to be bottled up by a jam. I always witness this scene on most mornings watching students from the Holy Angel University rushing to their classes. Traffic is a BIG problem in Angeles and my friend Dan Concepcion, has strong resolve but his best is not enough. The traffic czar's eyebrows are already thinning.
How I love to recall the good old days, ah the good old days Rico J. Puno will sigh. When I was still in my shorts, my trip from my hometown of Porac to Angeles City only took me few minutes, and got no more than ten vehicles that you will meet on the road. Travelling to Manila was always extremely pleasant, with only two known bus companies plying the route, La Mallorca-Pambusco of the Enriquez and Philippine Rabbit of the Buan and Paras families. There were no tricycles yet competing on the two lane MacArthur Highway. There was no need for a Traffic Enforcement Group.
Under the leadership of Mayor Ed Pamintuan, the roads were expanded including some bridges, but that the vehicles are too many and increases in number yearly, roads in Angeles City, either they needed to be replaced, repaired and expanded. After the City of San Fernando, Angeles City has the biggest volume of vehicles passing through its roads. That's according to available statistics at the Land Transportation Office.
The Macarthur highway stretch from the Mabalacat City boundary down to the downtown area of Angeles and making looping turn after the Holy Angel University is a traffic problem area. It is always a rush hour situation, and seven o'clock of each mornings and five o'clock of each afternoon, it will put the traffic at EDSA to shame.
How lovely to see in other countries bikers having their own lanes and travel unimpeded. With the sheer number of bicycle riders now, I am suggesting that officials of the three cities, Mabalacat, Angeles and San Fernando should meet and thoroughly address and come up with a solution on how to accommodate the tens of thousands of bikers now using daily the highways and secondary roads. Officials shouldn't be reactive but pro-active, as they usually say. Don't wait for accidents to happen.
By the way, motorists are complaining why the road expansion project of the Friendship Highway is taking so long. Please put the required billboard when will the project be completed and who is the contractor, so we know whom to call or blame. Same on all road construction projects inside Clark Freeport. As a car driver, I can sense something is wrong with the roads already constructed. When I drive my sedan inside the Freeport the roads are so wavy that I feel I am surfing in San Juan, La Union.
My tweets:
+ Is my friend Bong Alvaro going to re-enter politics? Why would he join a political party? For what?
+ Alvaro was a brilliant member of the Angeles City Council for several years. He bowed out of politics after an unsuccessful run in the vice mayoral race.
+ Tarlac Congressman Noel Villanueva should convince Alvaro to run against incumbent Mayor Andy Lacson, whose popularity greatly diminished due to many unfavorable reports. Btw. Alvaro is originally from Concepcion, Tarlac.