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=Edsa, the road, not the revolution–How to survive it=
:By: Anne A. Jambora, Cheche V. Moral
:Philippine Daily Inquirer
:Source: http://lifestyle.inquirer.net/14533/edsa-the-road-not-the-revolution%E2%80%93how-to-survive-it-2
:Sunday, September 18th, 2011 | 1:58 AM
The world sat up—and applauded—when Filipinos staged the People Power Revolution in 1986, which came to be known as the Edsa Revolution. Since then, however, thanks to the increasing number of vehicles and people, the world (in a manner of speaking) is sitting through traffic on Edsa—and seething.
A 2009 survey showed that 300,000 commuters, every day, took this highway connecting mega Manila. That was two years ago. The number must have increased since then.
Edsa is an ugly stretch of infrastructure. It’s covered with soot and billboards. It’s an endless clutter. It’s the best proof how we don’t plan—or that we can’t follow either plan or rules.
But, like it or not, Edsa helps define our lifestyle for the simple reason that we can hardly lead a day without it.
Here, commuters give random but smart suggestions on how we can live—with Edsa
If you want to give a piece of your mind, post your comments on http://lifestyle.inquirer.net, or e-mail to lifestyle.inquirer @gmail.com.
'''Bus drivers!'''
I pass through Edsa five to six times a week. Since I don’t have to travel at rush hour, my ride is not very stressful. But the major problem are the bus drivers who think they own Edsa! More than improving the road or structure, change should start within ourselves by obeying traffic rules. And government should put the right person to strictly implement regulations.—Trisha Cruz-Cuason, 39, owner, Vintage Restore and Our Treasure Trove
'''Billboard jungle'''
I pass through Edsa almost every day. Bus drivers don’t follow traffic rules. They stop anywhere. There are unfinished road repairs and excavation projects which cause heavy traffic jam and accidents. Edsa has also become a billboard jungle.
Traffic decongestion should be a priority.
The government should improve the public transport system (modern mass transit rail lines/ more trains).
The public should also be notified about road work in advance, which should be finished on schedule.
And outdoor advertising must be be regulated.—Shelly Lazaro, 32, importer and distributor of beauty, health and wellness products; president, Rotary Club of Makati San Lorenzo
'''Government buses'''
I go through Edsa every day. The problem with bus drivers is that there’s no discipline. I’m prone to road rage, that’s why I chose to hire a driver when I came home after living in the US for almost 20 years…
The government should regulate the number of buses. Better yet, the government should own the buses, because it would be unfair to give the bus franchise only to the top two bidders. If buses are government-owned, the government can regulate the schedules of arrival and departure, which would teach Filipinos to stick to a schedule. If the bus arrives at a certain time, people will be forced to be at the bus stop at the appointed time. —Raul Matias, chocolatier-owner of Machiavelli Chocolatier New York
'''Repaint lines'''
I pass along Edsa almost every day. The color coding of the buses worked at the start but, for some reason, it’s back to the usual slow-moving traffic. I think all drivers, both for PUVs and private cars, must be educated about swerving, changing lanes and speed, etc.
Also, the bus stops with those cemented barriers don’t work. The lines of the lanes should be clear/repainted or even reflectorized so the vehicles don’t occupy two lanes at a time.
The roads should be smooth and without lubak.—China Cojuangco, chef
'''Political will'''
I live along Morato Street and work in Makati. I avoid Edsa except on Sundays and after midnight. I find the alternate route less stressful. I have no empirical evidence that my alternate route is faster or shorter, but nothing is more stress-inducing than looking at the rear end of cars crawling and stretching forever!
The answers are easy, but it’s the cost, political will and being hated by at least 13 million people that make any implementation of improvements worse than being on Edsa itself during a midnight-madness payday-Friday-it’s-raining day.—Marlon Rivera, filmmaker, fashion designer ad agency president
'''Bus franchises'''
I pass through Edsa daily. When I go home at night, there are too many half-empty buses plying Edsa. They act like they own the road, they block the main intersections, and they don’t stick to their bus lanes.
There are no proper bus pick-up and drop-off points for passengers, so half of them end up on Edsa. There’s trash all over the place because we don’t have proper trash bins.
The government should lessen the number of buses on the road by cutting down on bus permits or franchises given out. It should implement pick-up and drop-off points and enforce the rules. It should place trash bins in strategic places (the type that can’t be stolen!).—Nikka Abes, corporate communications manager, Nokia Phils.
'''Courtesy'''
I’ve learned to accept Edsa’s many flaws and live with them, which is easy if you take the stress-free innermost lane. To make Edsa better, it all begins with all motorists taking road discipline and courtesy to heart. —Faith Fernandez Aranton, 42, Avon Philippines head of PR and communications
'''Foot bridges'''
From my guest room window, I have a view of Edsa, which gives me enough warning to take a different route if I want to make my appointment on time.
I pass through Edsa at least once a week. So many buses are crowding the highway, and so many buses park anywhere to wait for passengers, becoming road obstructions. They also cut in and out of traffic.
There are not enough road signs, or they are not always visible. There are delinquent teenage boys opening taxis and snatching handbags. Foot bridges are so far apart. Passenger waiting areas are very narrow and unlighted, and with no overhang cover to protect people from the rain.
My suggestions: Add more road signs and improve their visibility. Assign roving patrols to deter juvenile delinquents and snatchers. Add more foot bridges and improve bus waiting areas so the passengers don’t spill out on the street.
Limit the number of buses running on Edsa, and apprehend traffic violators.
Citizens must also stop bribing traffic police to get out of a fix.
Government needs to run sting operations to stop this practice, and any traffic policeman who accepts money in lieu of giving a ticket should be terminated. —Christina Boyd, senior national sales director, Mary Kay
'''Undisciplined drivers'''
I get to pass through Edsa maybe only once a week, going to Makati. I normally use C5 since it is more convenient for me and there’s less traffic.
Every time I have to pass through Edsa, I feel I have to give myself time allowance because of the traffic, no matter the time of day. The buses scare me every time, too! So many undisciplined drivers; for me, they are the main cause of traffic.
More highways and alternative routes should be added. Or why not subways like in New York, plus additional trains. Or maybe, just educate and discipline the bus drivers once and for all.—Len Nepomuceno, fashion designer
'''Time limit'''
I pass through Edsa about four times a week. I hate the potholes and how buses and taxis seem to stop wherever they like without regard for other cars.
The government should ensure that roads are repaired regularly, and the MMDA should be vigilant in ensuring that buses and taxis stop in their correct zones and observe a time limit in their stops.—Vicki Abary-de Leon, features editor, Philippine Tatler
'''Monorail'''
I pass through Edsa at least 10 times a week. Problems: Errant buses, undisciplined drivers. Solutions: Implement motorcycle lanes, remove jeepneys along Edsa, reduce the number of buses, improve the road, add monorail or train track, and clear exit and entry points of traffic—Yoly Crisanto, Globe Telecom corporate communications head
'''Mass transit on C5'''
Traffic on Edsa is really a volume issue and can only be solved by rationalizing other routes. Best option is to put mass transit on C5, which is a parallel north-south connector for Metro Manila. Public transit plying C5 is all colorum, so a cost-effective mass transit solution (probably BRT or bus rapid transit) on C5 should be win-win solution for government, private operators and commuters.
I pass Edsa at least two to three times a week and lately traffic has been getting worse, even on weekends and holidays.—Kaye Tinga, civic volunteer
'''‘Rugby kids’'''
I go through Edsa every day.
Problems: Traffic, unruly drivers, bad road conditions, “rugby” kids, homeless families, panhandlers.
Solutions: I think the government should be extra-vigilant in making sure rules are followed. And if we are to be responsible citizens, we should not tolerate and encourage unlawful acts, but instead set a good a example.—Ronald Pineda, CEO of Folded & Hung
'''Alternate routes'''
I go through Edsa all the time. Many of our premiere stores (Makati and Cubao as well as North Edsa, Megamall, Mall of Asia) are in the route. This is also part of my regular commute from my home in QC to our corporate office in MOA.
Problems: Buses, especially in Cubao and Guadalupe areas, have a lot to do with congestion. There are also unannounced repairs. Solutions: More public transport and alternate routes; stricter traffic rules when it comes to buses.—Millie Dizon, SM VP for marketing
'''Billboards'''
I pass through Edsa every day of the week. Since I don’t drive, I always notice the new billboards. Edsa now looks like a billboard marketplace. There are just too many and some are pretty distracting. This causes some drivers to slow down, bringing about even more traffic.
Ideally, we should have a more beautiful Edsa with fewer billboards, and placed in a more streamlined way.—Sheena Dy, brand manager, Lancôme
'''Add MRT carriages'''
Unfortunately, I have to go through Edsa almost every day, twice a day. Problems: Traffic! buses, potholes, motorcycles, MMDA incidents, MMDA stalled vehicles.
Solutions: Regulate buses—there are just too many! Strictly implement the use of designated bus stops.
Also, stricter and consistent traffic rules for bus drivers and operators. Provide a more efficient mass transit system by adding carriages to the existing MRT.
Improve the quality of bus drivers. Mandate a thorough training of MMDA officers and instill in them greater discipline before they get deployed at Edsa.
Educate traffic enforcers to ensure that when they catch a traffic violator, they have to move the car to the rightmost lane and not interrogate the violator right smack in the middle of the road. Motorcycles, too, should not be allowed to ply Edsa! Introduce and encourage carpooling at peak hours, 7-9 a.m., 5-7 p.m.—Donna S. Perez, head of operations, American Express Adventure International Tours
'''Add traffic personnel'''
I go through Edsa an average of six times each week. I try to make it a point to take it outside of rush hours. Even with the recent MMDA crackdowns, the bus drivers are still reckless and uneducated on road rules. The government should improve regulations for bus operators and drivers, plus assign additional personnel to monitor them.—Erik Lacson, 42, IT consultant
'''Shaw underpass'''
I pass through Edsa at least 10 times in a week. Unruly drivers drop off or pick-up passengers at intersections, or overtake other buses that are doing exactly that, and in the process hog two, sometimes three, lanes. Choke points are, northbound: on the approach to the Shaw underpass where buses clog the service road and beyond; and again toward Cubao from Camp Crame.
There should be a stricter crackdown on colorum buses. Technology should be used to identify licensed buses.
In critical areas, install CCTV cameras that can zoom in on vehicle plates. Also, empower motorists to submit photos or videos of unruly vehicles that cut lanes.—Charisse Chuidian, hotel PR director
'''Provincial buses'''
Edsa is not really a part of my daily route, but I pass there thrice a week going to Makati. It’s like hell, especially during rush hour. Part of the problem is the undisciplined pedestrians and motorists, especially bus drivers! Government should strictly implement traffic rules and apprehend all violators. MMDA should revive the central terminals from north to south to prevent provincial buses from entering the city.—Edwin Tuyay, 53, on-assignment photographer, Bloomberg News
'''Discipline'''
I don’t take Edsa every week. It’s just too treacherous! I avoid it as much as possible because it’s such a pain to traverse it. I recently had to accompany someone in an ambulance and our only route to the hospital was Edsa on a Saturday night. Even with sirens blaring away, people were not giving way (especially the buses)! What should have been an easy patient transfer ended up a nightmare.
What should be done? It boils down to people: people in the vehicles, people directing traffic, people doing maintenance and those people trying to cross on foot (why are they trying to cross such a busy thoroughfare in the first place?).
Discipline is difficult to instill, yet it needs to be addressed. If those in charge would just follow through with plans and stay consistent, there might be some semblance of discipline on Edsa.—Bennii Obaña, musician and English teacher
'''Cubao to Crame'''
These are the problems: Undisciplined bus drivers hogging the road. MMDA/kotong cops in certain spots of the route. The traffic west-bound gets clogged in Cubao to Crame but loosens up after that, only to get clogged again at the Ortigas intersection. Snatchers who prowl the Guadalupe section during rush hour (they open your doors if unlocked and snatch whatever they can and run off).
Solutions: Reduce the number of buses; they seldom fill up anyway. Relocate all bus terminals that still operate on Edsa to smaller roads. Ban scooters.
Add green “eco walls” along the side walls of under- and overpasses. These are walls that can anchor plants to detox the polluted air there.—Alvin Uy, 45, writer
'''Alternative areas'''
I commute to and from Shaw, from SM North. That’s 10 times a day. Commuting is hell whether on the train or on a bus or cab. Why do we bother taking a shower in the morning?
But I see that government is trying. Buses have fast lanes. Trains are also frequent but still not enough. Maybe if we provide an alternate train route to ease the Cubao choke point? A Cubao-Pasay express train route, perhaps?
Also, there are just too many people in Manila accessing Edsa. It would be nice to promote alternative areas for business.—Angie Umbac, 40, campaigns coordinator, Rainbow Rights (R-Rights)
=Makati implements tougher traffic laws=
:PIA Press Release
:by Jerome Carlo R. Paunan
:Source: http://www.pia.gov.ph/?m=1&t=1&id=54735
:Saturday, September 17, 2011
MAKATI CITY, Sept. 17 (PIA) -- The local government on Friday started implementing City Ordinance No. 2011-010 which amends certain provisions of the Makati City Traffic Code of 2003 and imposes stricter traffic regulations.
In a statement, it said the ordinance also imposes higher fines and penalties for drunk driving, blocking intersections and other traffic violations in the city.
According to Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay, the move is in line with the thrust of the city government to improve road safety and traffic flow in the country’s financial center, which has an average daily vehicular volume of 800,000 on regular workdays.
“The sheer volume of vehicles that ply our road network every day makes it necessary for us to take steps to ensure that motorists strictly abide by traffic rules and exercise discipline and courtesy on the road. We believe stiffer penalties are an effective deterrent to traffic violations that often cause accidents and traffic congestion,” Binay said.
The mayor said the ordinance has set higher fines for driving over a Yellow Box at an intersection, from P500 to P1,000 for the first offense, and for the second and third offenses, P2,500 and P5,000, respectively.
Disobedience to traffic control signals, on the other hand, will entail a fine of P2,500 and/or suspension of driver’s license and, for a public utility vehicle, suspension of Certificate of Public Convenience.
Binay said emphasis is being given on keeping intersections free and unobstructed because motorists, in trying to beat the red light, often enter the Yellow Box marking an intersection even if the path is not clear for an exit, and end up blocking the flow of traffic on all sides. The ordinance mandates a time limit of 15 seconds for a driver to move his or her vehicle out of a Yellow Box, reckoned from the time the traffic light facing him or her turns red.
Drunk drivers or those driving motor vehicles under the influence of drugs face stiffer sanctions in the city, as the ordinance, in addition to the P2,500 fine and/or imprisonment prescribed by the 2003 Traffic Code for the first offense, provides for the impounding of the vehicle.
The city will also strongly recommend to the Land Transportation Organization (LTO) the suspension or revocation of the drunk driver’s license. (RJB/JCP-PIA NCR)
=Makati residents hit oil spill clean-up anew=
:by Ferdinand Fabella
:Thursday, September 15, 2011
:Source: http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideMetro.htm?f=2011/september/15/metro2.isx&d=2011/september/15
RESIDENTS of oil spill-hit Barangay [[Bangkal, Makati, Philippines|Bangkal]] in Makati City are up in arms over the planned installation of oil extraction equipment in their neighborhood that would supposedly hasten the recovery of oil contaminated groundwater.
In a petition addressed to Bangkal barangay chairman Fermin Eusebio, the residents said the Multi-Phase Extraction system would only bring noise and air pollution in the village, aside from causing vehicular traffic because of the influx of vehicles and heavy equipment of the First Philippine Industrial Corp.
FPIC, which owns the pipeline that had sprung a leak last year, is planning to put up the MPE in a leased property along Heneral Capinpin Street, right at the heart of the residential area.
“We oppose and object to the close proximity to our homes of the chosen location for the FPIC’s Multi-Phase Extraction processor. Our lives have already been turned upside down as a result of the FPIC fuel leak; we do not need any more unnecessary disruptions,” the villagers said.
The residents are also asking FPIC to provide them a “written, logical, and acceptable explanation” about the choice of location, including the expected air and noise pollution levels, the possible effects of extracted vapors that might be released to the atmosphere, and the volume of traffic along Heneral Capinpin Street.
MPE, or dual-phase extraction, uses a high-vacuum system to remove both contaminated groundwater and soil vapor from the subsurface. FPIC said it would take delivery of the machine from the United States within the year.
MPE has been endorsed by the Department of Science and Technology after it satisfactorily passed the Environmental Technology Verification early this year.
The performance of the technology, according to the DOST, has been proven already and verified by the United States Environmental Protection Agency.
The DoST review of the proposed MPE technology was requested by the Inter-Agency Committee on Environmental Health in accordance with the government technology review protocol.
The committee is made up of the Departments of Environment and Natural Resources, Energy, and Health, and the city of Makati. It is mandated to ensure that the environmental remediation or removal of contaminants from Bangkal’s affected areas will be successfully implemented.
=Makati readies ticker tape parade for Shamcey Supsup=
:Thursday, September 15, 2011 | 7:57 AM
:Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/232424/entertainment/makati-readies-ticker-tape-parade-for-shamcey-supsup
A ticker-tape parade in Makati City awaits Miss Universe third runner-up Shamcey Supsup upon her return to the Philippines.
In an [[Makati_News#MAKATI_WANTS_TO_HONOR_SHAMCEY_SUPSUP_WITH_TICKER_TAPE_PARADE.2C_VISIT_TO_HIGH_SCHOOL_ALMA_MATER|article]] posted on the city government web portal, Makati City Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay Jr. said Supsup had graduated salutatorian from Makati High School (MHS).
"We are truly proud that Shamcey was a product of a Makati public school. Apparently, the city has not only produced outstanding alumni with scholastic achievements, but has also helped develop a world-class beauty queen," Binay said.
Miss Universe 3rd runner-up Shamcey Supsup said the support she received from Filipinos motivated her to do well in the pageant. Reuters
Aside from the ticker-tape parade along Ayala Avenue, a visit to Makati High School, where Supsup graduated in 2003, is also being prepared.
Binay said he has written Stella Araneta, who chairs the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) regarding the planned welcome for Supsup.
Supsup ranked a place higher than her predecessor, Venus Raj, who was fourth runner-up in the 2010 pageant.
Leila Lopes of Angola was crowned the 60th Miss Universe, making her the first titleholder from her country.
Aside from Supsup, the others who are part of Lopes' entourage are:
*Miss Ukraine Olesya Stefanko (1st runner-up);
*Miss Brazil Priscila Machado (2nd runner-up); and
*Miss China Luo Zilin (4th runner up).
'''Transferee at Makati HS'''
The same article said Supsup was a sophomore transferee at Makati High School, and shone not only in academics but also in extra-curricular activities.
She was an active member of their Supreme Student Council, it said.
Also, she was sent to Japan as an exchange scholar student for 2001-2002 and had represented the school in various leadership seminars.
"Showing signs of being destined to be a beauty queen early on, she won in beauty competitions in high school, such as Lakambini ng Aklatan, and was a favourite choice as muse in their school’s intramurals and proms, among others," the statement said.
Supsup, born on May 16, 1986 in General Santos City, is a licensed architect and topped the Architecture Licensure Examination in July 2010 after graduating magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines-Diliman. — '''RSJ, GMA News'''
=Makati court halts MMDA drive vs billboards=
:abs-cbnNEWS.com
:Thursday, September 15, 2011 12:23 AM | Updated as of September 15, 2011 8:26 AM
:Source: http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/nation/metro-manila/09/14/11/makati-court-halts-mmda-drive-vs-billboards
MANILA, Philippines – A Makati court has issued a 20-day temporary restraining order (TRO) on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)'s campaign to take down large billboards in Metro Manila.
The court sided with the Outdoor Advertising Association of the Philippines, which filed a complaint after MMDA officials dismantled an advertising material of one of its members located in Kalayaan Avenue in Makati.
The complaint said the billboard was erected within a private property.
The billboard’s dismantling caused legal problems with the company’s client.
MMDA, meanwhile, expressed dismay over the TRO.
“''Nakakatakot po ‘yung ganito kasi policy decisions ng pamahalaan na para sa kabutihan naman ng lahat, na kasama na din ang public safety kasi kapag may bagyo pinaparolyo natin iyan, e ngayon pahihintuin ka,''” said MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino.
MMDA said the billboard was taken down because it violated the building code.
According to the National Building Code, billboards must not exceed one-third of the roof’s building and must be at least 5 meters from the road.
MMDA added that only 18 billboards in Quezon City have permits.
The agency is planning to appeal the court’s decision. -- '''Report from Gretchen Malalad, ABS-CBN News'''
=One dead, 2 hurt in demolition in Makati=
:Source: http://www.gmanews.tv/story/232319/nation/one-dead-2-hurt-in-makati-demolition
:Wednesday, September 14, 2011 | 08:00 AM
One person was reported killed while two others were injured after a wall of a house being demolished collapsed on them in Makati City Tuesday evening.
The body of the fatality, initially identified as a certain Julius Tumbocon, 29, was recovered from the rubble hours after the incident, radio dzBB reported Wednesday.
Citing initial police reports, the dzBB report identified the two injured as Rommel Magmula and Pepito Regala.
An initial investigation showed the wall and floor of the second floor of the house at the corner of Pasong Tamo and Kalayaan Avenue in Sta. Cruz village collapsed.
Investigators are still looking into whether the three victims were working on the demolition at the time of the incident. — '''RSJ, GMA News'''
=MAKATI WANTS TO HONOR SHAMCEY SUPSUP WITH TICKER TAPE PARADE, VISIT TO HIGH SCHOOL ALMA MATER=
:Wednesday, September 14, 2011 | 02:28 PM
:Source: http://www.makati.gov.ph/portal/news/view_news.jsp?news_id=2775
Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin S. Binay today announced that the city government is planning to honor Miss Universe 2011 3rd runner-up Shamcey Supsup, who graduated salutatorian from Makati High School (MHS), once she returns home.
The tribute includes a ticker-tape parade along Ayala Avenue and a visit to Makati High School, where she graduated in 2003.
Binay has written Stella Araneta, chairperson of the Binibining Pilipinas Charities, Inc. (BPCI) regarding the planned welcome for Supsup.
“We are truly proud that Shamcey was a product of a Makati public school. Apparently, the city has not only produced outstanding alumni with scholastic achievements, but has also helped develop a world-class beauty queen,” Binay said.
Supsup was a sophomore transferee at Makati High School where she shone not only academically but also in extra-curricular activities. She was an active member of their Supreme Student Council.
She was also sent to Japan as an exchange scholar student for the school year 2001-2002 and had been the school representative in various leadership seminars. 
Showing signs of being destined to be a beauty queen early on, she won in beauty competitions in high school, such as ''Lakambini ng Aklatan'', and was a favorite choice as muse in their school’s intramurals and proms, among others.
Supsup was born on May 16, 1986 in General Santos.  She is a licensed architect and topped the Architecture Licensure Examination in July 2010 after graduating magna cum laude from the University of the Philippines-Diliman.


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=MMDA acts on street dwellers=
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