Traffic: Is it Good or Bad to Our Economy?

                     
  Recently, Pres. Benigno Aquino III said that traffic is a sign that the Philippine economy is booming. For him, it only shows that many Filipino families are improving their lives because they can afford to buy a vehicle. It is so good to hear these words from our president if his observation is realistic. Maybe he is only giving an applause to his administration; under his governance, he made a great contribution to the lives of many Filipino people. He and his cabinets are claiming that the economic growth of our country was dramatically increased.

            But is it true that traffic is a sign to say that our country is becoming progressive? Maybe in another country this is very true. For them, to have a car is just a necessity and not a luxury. Even ordinary people have their own car. But here in the Philippines, it is hard to claim it when you knew that poverty is very rampant. Look only to the sidewalk and you will see a lot of beggars and homeless people. The indigenous people like Badjao are also roaming around the metro to alms.

            Why Mr. President is using traffic as a parameter to measure the condition of our economy? Even traffic enforcers would not say this. For them and for ordinary people, traffic is just giving an headache. Does the president already hear the opinion of any economic expert? They are saying that traffic is a big hindrance for the growth of our economy. Because of traffic many gasoline would be consumed and people are becoming unproductive because many of them are become late to their works. If we will count the money that become were gone because of traffic it would be millions or even billion. It is very contrary to the statement of P-Noy that traffic is a good for our economy.

            If it is true that the economy of the Philippines is blooming, then, we have a lot of train transit here like in progressive countries that they have no problem about mass transportation. Here, the government is complaining to their subsidy in MRT and LRT. That’s why they want to privatize or they want to raise it fair price.

            It doesn’t mean that if you have a vehicle you’re already a progressive person. Many vehicles that you will see in our highway are already too old. They are still using it, although they should already abolish it from the hi-way because it contributes a lot to air pollution. One thing, traffic creates also commotion. We knew that because of traffic many drivers are become trouble maker. They don’t want to give way to each other and sometimes it would lead to a shooting incident. Not only that, snatchers have the opportunity to snatch when there’s a traffic. Instead to treat traffic as positive, why not the government look for a solution about the massive traffic that happening in our country especially in Metro Manila? Yes, MMDA is really working regarding this matter, but the traffic is getting worse in every day.