Huli ka!

Sa dami ng nagtatanong tungkol sa status ng UVVRP for Pasig at Paranaque, tinawagan namin ulit yung MMDA Hotline (136). Ang sagot nila ngayon ay ang mga lungsod ng Pasig, Paranaque at Marikina ang walang coding at ang Pasay daw ay meron.

Labo talaga.

Anyway, updated na po ulit yung UVVRP post.

In response to several queries submitted to Huli Ka! regarding the UVVRP, we called up the MMDA Hotline (136) to inquire about the cities that have 1) chosen to NOT implement UVVRP, and 2) do not recognize the 10:00am to 3:00pm window.

In response to the first question, the cities of Marikina and (surprisingly) Pasay have chosen NOT to implement UVVRP within their bounderies.

As for the second question, the cities of Makati, Las Pinas and Malabon have all chosen to implement UVVRP from 7:00am to 7:00pm.

Anyway, we have changed our UVVRP post to reflect the changes.

Drive safe!

Smile! You're on camera!

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando has announced on Sunday, January 25, 2009, that the MMDA has started using traffic surveillance cameras on EDSA to catch traffic violators in the act. The program, which is currently on a three month trial stage, was implemented in support of their "no physical contact" policy. Similar to "speed camera" programs used in other countries around the world, violators caught on tape will be sent a notice (presumably, to the address indicated on the vehicle's registration) which will contain the details of their violation as well as a still photo of the vehicle "in the act". Violators will then have 7 days upon receipt of the notice to either file an appeal with the Traffic Adjudication Board or pay the fine at any Metrobank branch. Failure to pay within the 7 days will automatically result in the flagging of the vehicle's registration and/or the owner's driver's license, which will be cause for their non-renewal.

For those of you who are interested, you can get more details on the MMDA's traffic surveillance cameras here.

Didn't they implement a similar program a few years back? I seem to recall some friends telling me that they've received a violation notices before, mostly those who were caught on camera driving on the yellow lanes. Anyway, I hope they're able to iron out the details on this as issues such as other people driving somebody else's car and relatively short videos not telling the whole story are bound to cause some confusion (and irritation, at least on the part of the vehicle owners).

Seems like the MMDA has issued a new ordinance regarding crossing the EDSA-Ortigas intersection at the ground level, according to this thread from Tsikot.com's Goon Squad. Private vehicles heading southbound are not allowed to cross the intersection, we suppose in an attempt to reduce the congestion in that area (which is typically caused by buses in the loading and unloading station right after POEA).

If anyone has pics of that area showing signage of the new rule, we'd appreciate if you could please forward it to us at hulika.contribute@gmail.com.

Anyway, thanks to Tom for the heads-up!

The MMDA will soon start using portable machines to issue tickets to traffic violators. The machines will also have the capability to remotely verify if the driver has unsettled violations just by swiping their driver's license on the machine. Aside from the obvious benefits of hastening the process of issuing traffic citations, the technology will also help reduce cases of bribery by preventing traffic enforcers from withdrawing tickets already issued by the machine.

Cool! If this works as advertised, this will make it more difficult for both the violator and enforcer to come up with an "arrangement". Sana lang reliable yung wireless network nila. Otherwise, status quo 'cos they'll be forced to fall back on paper TVRs.

MMDA Chair Bayani Fernando has announced that the MMDA has done well in the past year, claiming that the U-turn slots, bus loading bays and the strict enforcement of traffic regulations have contributed greatly to the easement of traffic on EDSA. According to the agency's statistics, the average speed on EDSA has risen 50%, from 21.11 km/hr to 31.88 km/hr, since 2003. Also, he says that new programs such as the Organized Bus Route system and the installation of 200 wireless surveillance cameras on EDSA will also bring about more improvements to the traffic flow in the coming year.

We're sure that everything they've done has contributed to the slight improvement in the traffic situation, but they can do so much more. For example, instead of catching yellow lane violators or smoke belchers, why not concentrate enforcement on those buses that load and unload outisde of the loading bays? These guys are a major source of traffic. Why not try and reduce the number of vehicles on the road? There are still tons of coding violators (for God's sake, don't let them go after you've caught and ticketed them. They're not supposed to be on the road so make them leave their vehicle until coding is over!) or vehicles with expired registrations. They should also push to reduce the number of buses since occupancy levels are quite low. As for their U-turn slots, are we the only ones who notice that they actually force vehicles to swerve sharply to the right after they make the turn?

Anyways, enough ranting. What do you guys think?

The MMDA has announced that coding will be lifted from December 25 to January 1. Unfortunately, based on the lack of any mention of December 24, it is assumed that coding will still be in effect on that day.

The MMDA has announced that it will set up 13 new bus stops on EDSA for the exclusive use of provincial buses. This was prompted by findings showing that the sharing of bus stops by both metro and provincial buses are a major cause of traffic congestion.

Oh no! This means that there will be 13 more spots where you can expect traffic on the already highly congested thoroughfare. Anyway, aren't provincial buses only allowed to load and unload passengers on their bus terminals? This is why they're not supposed to use the yellow lanes, right?

The MMDA is currently monitoring EDSA to determine the most appropriate speed limit for the major thoroughfare. According to MMDA chair Bayani Fernando, the 40kph speed limit set some time ago is not valid anymore, even if the average speed right of vehicles traversing EDSA is 31.88kph. Fernando believes that since EDSA is considered a "highway", the speed limit should be around 100kph.

100kph on EDSA?! With people crossing on the ground level, buses swerving in and out of the yellow lanes and stopping suddenly at the middle of the road, motorcycles lane splitting and swerving right and left, vehicles going at 40kph driving on the fast lane and staying two lanes out before turning right?! Yeah, right!

Again, we feel that 60kph would be a more appropriate limit, with 40kph being the limit for the yellow lanes. Until drivers and pedestrians learn some discipline (and the only way they can learn is through proper enforcement), then anything faster than this would be ridiculous.

Just found out about this now.

Seems like the Las Pinas local government has joined both Makati and Pasay in implementing coding even during the window hours of 10am-3pm. This was first imposed last June. Here's an old article about it.

Also, keep in mind that the city of Las Pinas ends once you get past the Concha Cruz entrance of BF Homes on Alabang-Zapote Rd. According to this thread on Tsikot.com, a lot of MMDA enforcers have been duping people along the Muntinlupa stretch of Alabang-Zapote Rd., as well as on Commerce Ave.

The MMDA has announced that the taxis, jeepneys and other forms of PUVs, except for Metro Manila buses, may be banned from using the yellow lanes on EDSA. The move will, according to MMDA Traffic Operations Center Executive Director Angelito Vergel de Dios, ensure an uninterrupted flow of buses on the outer lanes of EDSA, and is being done in preparation for the implementation of the Organized Bus Route system. Read more about it here.

First, the yellow lanes are not the ones that are clogged with vehicles, buses or otherwise. Second, when will metro buses be banned from using the non-yellow lanes? These buses are the ones that contribute to the traffic situation, especially in and around the loading stations.

Finger pointing between the MMDA and the DPWH, as well as the Senate and the House of Representatives and the DPWH (again), is now the trend a day after three billboards were downed on EDSA yesterday.

First, while the MMDA has been conducting clearing operations of the fallen billboards, they have limited themselves to those parts which may impede traffic flow. According to this article, Roberto Esquivel, head of the MMDA’s sidewalk clearing operations, has pointed to DPWH as the one who should dismantle the main structure as they are the ones who have jursidiction.

Second, Senator Miriam Defensor-Santiago, principal sponsor of the anti-billboard bill from last year's congress, has blamed the House of Representatives for railroading the passage of said bill last year. According to her, certain legislators worked with the "billboard lobby" to ensure that no action would be taken in the lower House. Considering the amount of noise that she made over this issue before, she's well justified in placing the blame. However, it would be a lot better if she names names.

Lastly, Senator Bong Revilla has joined the fray, pointing to the DPWH as the main culprit. “The inspection and monitoring of billboards should be on a regular basis, not after there is already an accident. This is a clear sample of ningas-kugon,” he said.

Three billboards fell down after strong winds accompanying a sudden downpour swept through EDSA this afternoon. According to this article on Inquirer.net, two of the billboards were illegal, as they did not follow established guidelines for billboard size and placement. At least one of them was 80'x90', way beyond the maximum size of 40'x60' as dictated by the guidelines. Also, the companies that owned the two billboards were considered "fly-by-night" shops and are not members of the Association of Outdoor Advertisers of the Philippines. Fortunately, no one was seriously hurt, but property damage may be considerable.

Because of this, the DPWH has announced that it will start dismantling billboards found in violation of various outdoor advertising laws.

Why does something bad have to happen before they do something about it? If they knew that these billboards were illegal, then why haven't they taken the appropriate action? Isn't it obvious that they are way beyond the maximum size? Lampas doble, diba?

Aside from going after the billboard companies, they should also file charges against those who approved the permits and those who are responsible for monitoring compliance, whether they be from the local government or DPWH. These people really need to learn a lesson.

Anyway, we couldn't find any pics of the downed billboards so we're embedding a short news vid from GMANews.TV instead.

MMDA Executive Director Angelito Vergel de Dios has announced that they will penalize towing agencies who are found to violate their Guidelines for Towing and Impounding. According to this short article from GMANews.TV, de Dios issued the warning after learning of complaints that certain agencies were not following established procedures and have harassed drivers. Unfortunately, no details were provided on how motorists can report abuses to them.

After all this time, he only found out about this now?! Medyo out of touch 'ata s'ya. Either that or the information reaching has already been filtered by those who have interests in this line of business.

MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando has announced that the MMDA will be replacing their Metro Gwapo tarpaulins with new ones. Instead of BF's serious mug, the new tarps will show him smiling. He also stated that he is using this opportunity to build a "stock of goodwill" and not as early campaigning. Read about it here.

Iba talaga 'tong si BF. Giving him credit, most, if not all, politicians try and promote themselves through their projects. That's why you see billboards with their names at construction sites, on ambulances or baranggay vehicles, or even on street lamps. It's just that BF's "project" has a much wider coverage than what we're used to. On the other hand, these tarps serve no direct purpose unlike vehicles or street lamps. This makes it a lot more "opportunistic" and "vulgar". Bottom-line, it's a waste of the government's money.

Hay naku. Ang laki ng binagsak mo, chairman. Sayang talaga.

Ang kapal talaga ng mukha nitong si MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando. Or maybe he's too stupid to know where Metro Manila borders end.

Anyway, his now-famous MMDA posters can be found in Los Banos, Laguna, despite the fact that Laguna is most definitely not a part of Metro Manila. Read about it here.

You know, we really liked BF once. We believed that his strong political will and hard-line stance would be a boon to the country. But recent happenings with these posters as well as his continuous use of PNP escorts, blinkers and sirens has shown that he's just like any other two-bit, dime-a-dozen, run-of-the-mill Philippine poliician, who puts his own needs ahead of the people.

P.S. The photo of the poster is not of those found in Laguna. If anybody out there can send us a copy, please do. Thanks!

Passed through EDSA around 4pm today and the sudden downpour brought about some light flooding. The metro's sewage system must really be in a bad condition despite MMDA's claims of progress on their flood control efforts.

Here are a few snaps:

Visibility was pretty badSome flooding on the yellow lanes right before the Shaw underpassMore flooding in front of SM Megamall
The people's penchant to litter plus, to some extent, all these real estate developments have really affected the metro's sewage system. The MMDA really has to step up in their clearing efforts and initiate moves to increase the number and effectivity storm drains and sewers.

Senior Deputy Minority Floor Leader Roilo Golez wants to up the speed limit "for 'through streets' or boulevards clear of traffic with no blind corners" like EDSA to 60kph for passenger cars and motorcycles and 50kph for trucks and buses. He also managed to make MMDA chairman Bayani Fernando sound like an ignorant ninny. Read the full article here.

Like we've mentioned before, we feel that a separate speed limit should be set for the yellow lanes. This makes a lot more sense compared to setting the limits based on the type of vehicle. Since most of the buses are supposed to use the yellow lanes (only provincial buses can use the regular lanes), then they will be forced to follow this. As for trucks, assuming that they are well maintained and that the drivers are well-trained, then following the standard speed limit should not be a problem.

Surprise, surprise! Seems like there's actually a 40kph speed limit on EDSA, which was established by Republic Act No. 4136.

But the MMDA is not enforcing this since the limit set by the law, which was first enacted on June 20, 1964, is not applicable in this day and age. According to MMDA Chairman Bayani Fernando, there are so many cars that it is practically impossible for cars to reach this speed. MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno, on the other hand, is of the opinion that automotive safety technology has advanced enough to make this limit inapplicable. Read more about it here.

Well, we think that it's about time that the government review and revise this particular law. A 60 or even 80kph speed limit would be more applicable to major thoroughfares like EDSA. However, we feel that a separate speed limit should be applied to the yellow lanes, since driving fast on these lanes would present the most danger to pedestrians and property. In this case, a 40kph limit would probably be best.

P.S. Chairman BF's opinion is kinda short-sighted. While it is true that EDSA is congested for most of the day, it is still possible to drive way beyond the 40kph limit during certain periods of the day and most definitely on weekends. So having the right speed limit, and enforcing it, would still be appropriate.

Since the end of June, the MMDA has been intesifying their drive against yellow lane violators, resulting in approximately 2,000 apprehensions. In a press release today, Bayani Fernando, MMDA Chairman, has called on drivers of private vehicles to follow the rules or risk apprehension. Read the full article from the Inquirer here.

Chairman naman! Kahit naman sino'ng eng-eng ay nakikita na ang trapik sa EDSA ay nagmamaligid sa mga istasyon ng bus. Bago mo tirahin ang mga drayber ng pang pribadong sasakyan, disiplinahin mo kaya muna yung mga drayber ng mga pang-publikong bus kasi mas malala ang epekto ng kanilang pagka-barumbadong pagmamaneho sa trapiko. Palibhasa kasi mas mahirap gatungan ang mga bus drayber at kundoktor kaya mas gusto nila manghuli ng mga pribado.