Think You Can Solve Metro Manila Traffic? The Palace Is Open to Suggestions

(SPOT.ph) Traffic in the Metro clearly isn't getting any better, but at least  something's being done—even if nothing seems to be working so far. While the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and the Department of the Interior and Local Government have been throwing around possible solutions and conducting "experiments," Metro Manila's people have been suffering through worse-than-usual traffic. And if you think you've got a good solution that needs to be heard, then go ahead and tell the government. Presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo says the Palace is all ears to your suggestions, which can be sent to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the Office of the President, or himself.

"Dati naman tayong open. In fact, kapag may nagmumungkahi sa opisina kong ganiyang, may sulat, binibigay ko kaagad sa MMDA," Panelo said in a Palace media briefing on Tuesday.

"They can send it [to the] MMDA directly, send it to OP (Office of the President), or send it to me,” he added.

Panelo actually made true on his statement and offered his own suggestion, saying that we could try for continuous 24-hour activities in the city to avoid certain times being congested. "Can you imagine kung gagawin mong 24 hours ang activity, di kalahati niyan nasa night time, 'yong kalahati nasa araw," explained Panelo, adding "For instance, eskuwelahan, bangko, kung mayroong night: kumbaga 24 hours ang activity natin."

Lots of suggestions have been thrown around the Internet to solve Metro Manila traffic. One such example is Caleb Cosico of the Facebook page Waterdiet, who sent an open letter to the MMDA on August 7. A "regular commuter," Cosico illustrated his suggestion of switching the designated yellow lanes and the lanes of private cars.

Comedian Rodolfo "Jun" Sabayton also offered his own solution, which proposes to replace private means of transport along EDSA with public utility vehicles for everyone. "Gawin mas makatao at para kahit papano ay makabawas ng polusyon sa kapaligiran at friendly sa lahat," said Sabayton on his Facebook page. 

"The government should always be open to any suggestion that will improve whatever problem the government faces. After all, we are in a society and each one is part of the whole," Panelo was quoted as saying in a report by the Manila Standard. Now, that's our cue to think of our own solutions—fingers crossed they would somehow work.

Main image from Patrick Roque - Wikimedia.