BAGUIO CITY – A veteran traffic engineer rebuffed the petty justifications of city officials and the Metro Pacific Tollways Corporation (MPTC) on the proposed collection of P250 congestion fee from vehicles of tourists visiting the city and entering the central business district area to address the worsening traffic congestions in the city.
Engr. Teodorico ‘Ted’ Tan, a 15-year traffic engineer who helped in crafting various traffic schemes being implemented in the different parts of the city, stated that he is deeply troubled by the potential negative and costly impact of the proposal to collect P250 congestion fee to residents and tourists.
He pointed out that successful public consultation requires transparency but MPTC’s withholding of crucial information such as the specific road network affected by the congestion fee, hinders meaningful public participation and that their justification of future Swiss Challenge is insufficient to withhold numerous important information to have a successful public consultation.
The traffic engineer argued that MPTC’s proposal raises various concerns such as data authenticity and public approval where the unanimous disapproval from citizens casts doubt on the validity of MPTC’s traffic survey data used to justify the congestion fee.
He claimed that Baguio traffic authorities can testify that the central business district’s traffic situation is manageable as anyone can observe, contrary to MPTC’s findings.
Further, PMTC’s claim that residents are willing to patronize improved public utility jeepneys to avoid the fee is highly questionable as there are still uncertainties surrounding the jeepney fleet management during peak hours, aggravated by high gas prices, and the lack of a central jeepney terminal, thus, the congestion fee is unreliable.
According to him, addressing the city’s transportation issues should be a pre-requisite for any congestion fee proposal, not an afterthought.
Tan explained that the Land transportation Franchising Regulatory Board (LTFRB) is the sole entity with the authority to oversee and introduce changes to the transportation system which means that the local government unit and private entities cannot unduly interfere with its operation.
He underscored that traffic fee collection is a government function and that the inherent police power for such action belongs solely to government personnel and cannot be delegated to private entities like MPTC.
Tan disclosed that while artificial intelligence (AI) holds promise, it has limitations in resolving traffic congestion since traffic gridlocks for example cannot be solely addressed by artificial intelligence as promised by the proponent.
He insinuated that the congestion fee proposal raises serious concerns regarding transparency, data validity, regulatory authority, and artificial intelligence limitations, thus, the local government should consider the proposal and work collaboratively with all the key stakeholders and the residents to find sustainable solutions for the city’s traffic issues without burdening the citizens.
Tan also served as a volunteer of the Baguio City traffic and Transportation Management Committee from 2019 to 2022 before leaving the said post for still undisclosed reasons.
Earlier, netizens criticized the proposed collection of P250 congestion fee from vehicles of visitors entering the central business district area, saying that the imposition of the same would further burden the residents by imposing such a fee which is contrary to making the city livable.
Many sectors pointed out that the overwhelming opposition to the imposition of the congestion fee should serve as a wake up call to city officials not to unreasonably justify the proposal because It seems that the local government is trying to pass on to the people its obligation to formulate schemes that will solve the worsening traffic congestions around the city.
Moreover, the citizens accused city officials of daydreaming in trying to compare Baguio to Singapore when the city is way behind the progressive nation in terms of many aspects of governance and development, thus, such aspiration is improbable for the next several decades.
Even if the collection of the congestion fee forms part of a holistic approach to solve traffic congestions around the city, the citizens questioned the motive of the local government in obviously rushing the approval of the said proposal by trying to make explanations that tend to confuse the people instead of clarifying the issues and concerns being raised against the congestion fee.
Another issue complicating the proposal is the failure of existing city roads to conform with standards which should be the first to be addressed by the local government instead of trying to advance the situation by allowing MPTC to be allegedly engaged in a money-making venture with some city officials at the expense of residents and visitors. By HENT
Needless to have MPTC in solving our own traffic management problems, having put as their priority making money instead of addressing solutions for such dilemma, also indicating that our city officials are seemingly lacking efficiency by passing this issue to the MPYC and keeping themselves safe by letting the people understand such proposal is a solution. Statistics should be considered with transparency. Perhaps, let the city government construct multilevel cark parks in close proximity to the CBD, let the people walk and only allow delivery transport of goods during the night (of course made as an ordinance to make it legal). No one should dictate the law, it must be followed.
Gridlock not greedlucks
“greedlucks” hahaha misspelled?
vs gridlock