Update on our petition - Aug 15, 2019

Hi everyone! I printed a copy of our petition (including the references) and then went to the Senate Session Hall last Monday, Aug 12, so I could give it to whoever I could see who may be able to get this done.  I handed copies to Sen. Grace Poe (two copies thru her staff), to MMDA Traffic Chief Edison Bong Nebrija and to mobility coalition representative Toix Cerna of Komyut.  Toix Cerna and I also exchanged numbers although my phone number was indicated in all the copies of the petition.

At the Senate, it was a little disappointing because what we heard were general proposals that have already been made before - decentralize government, construct elevated walk ways, use the Pasig River, remove illegal parked cars in inner streets so private cars can use them, etc.  Sen. Gatchalian also reiterated his call to require parking for new car buyers.  While they are all good, it will take time and/or money before they can be implemented.  The removal of illegally parked cars is something that should normally be done as it already is the law but is just not implemented.  Sen. Sotto noted that there still are many illegally parked cars.  In the end, what was concluded on is a review of MMDA powers (i.e., if it could be expanded) and the hope that the TRO (banning of public buses) be lifted for the dry run to be made.

There were also calls for "great commuting experience" and for solutions that are effective, cost efficient, environment friendly, etc.  While all these are good, they are actually descriptions of the solutions we all want.  They are not concrete solutions we can suggest and implement that is why we still need this petition.

The banning of public buses my no longer be needed if only we allot more lanes for the buses.  We currently have up to 4 lanes for private cars in EDSA and only 1-2 for the buses.  Despite what they say to prioritize the use of buses, if they keep allotting more lanes for the cars, it is still doing the opposite.  They are still prioritizing the private cars.  Despite being a solution, this may be hard to implement because the people in our government all use private cars.  Anyway, I hope this will change and our part is to continue campaigning for this (by sharing and asking more to sign) and hopefully it gets implemented to ease the burden of the majority who use EDSA.  Thank you very much to all of you!