IN THE past, after the Second World War, Bacolod was one of the best urban-planned cities in the Philippines.
There were wide roads at the time, especially in Araneta and Lacson Streets going to the downtown area, with sidewalks where people enjoyed walking.
Some streets were lined with trees on both sides, while in other streets there were “islands” in the middle with flowering plants and two-pronged street lights for both sides of the road.
There were plenty of open spaces, too, which had provided people with pleasant sight, and increased natural cooling for the city, aside from helping improve the physical well-being of the residents.
Now, many years later, many of our open spaces are no more, and the public plaza lacks proper maintenance and not secure from criminals and pickpocketers.
Our sidewalks and some of our streets are now filled with street dwellers, and pedestrians have to walk on the side of the streets, which are not safe.
The purpose of this column is not to criticize or nitpick, but to provide inputs for the City of Bacolod in its urban planning, to ensure that Bacolod can grow to become a liveable and livable city.
Transportation and road widening
In any city, there is always room for improvement. In Bacolod, I've used the public jeepneys, taxicabs and my car.
The most effective way of moving around is by car, and sadly – this adds to the traffic congestion.
The solution is not road widening by adding more lanes. As the well-known urban planner Lewis Mumford said a long time ago, “building roads to prevent congestion is like a fat man loosening his belt to prevent obesity.”
Besides, as has been commonly happening in Bacolod, additional lanes do not help solve traffic congestion.
This is for the reason that the additional lanes are used as parking spaces, and where informal settlers along the street also used an extension of their houses, or to put up sari-sari stores, mini vulcanizing and repair shops, or fruit stands!
The solution is, therefore, not only road widening but also a comprehensive urban plan coupled with a traffic management plan.
More importantly, the solution is to enforce traffic laws and city ordinances, without fear and favor.
Section 23 of Presidential Decree (PD) No. 178, also known as the Revised Philippine Highway Act, prohibits the use of road right-of-way for temporary and permanent structures such as buildings, houses, shanties, stores, shops, stalls, sheds, canopies, and billboards.
Let’s continue on Friday.
(Eli Gatanela is a lawyer, licensed real estate consultant and urban planner. For comments and feedback, e-mail eligat_ph@yahoo.com)