Features Widening Concern, Narrowing Relief

By DOMINIQUE LLADOC

THE TRUTH THAT “change is constraint” is something we have to face in our developing country wherein road widening is one that intertwines to it. Roads are designed to assist mobility of people and goods.

Most roadways, however, have been widened and designed to accommodate vehicles rather than pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles. While this enhances traffic and capacity, it has an influence on settlers’ household conditions.

‘Road advancements’ does not live up to its name.

The objective of road widening is to increase the capacity and efficiency of the road in order to handle more traffic and alleviate congestion.

Time-consuming and costly as it is, road widening increases the number of vehicles that traverse on them. Reduced travel times will be much more evident with increased capacity and improved traffic flow for the convenience of commuters as well as travelers.

Most importantly, accessibility to businesses, residential and commercial areas, and other destinations is likely to improve, boosting economic activity and growth, benefiting the local businesses and the community.

Nonetheless, it is important to note that road widening can also have negative consequences, such as increased noise and air pollution, loss of green space, and displacement of homes and businesses.

Some may argue that a wider road improves traffic flow by providing more space for the same number of vehicles. Even so, this reasoning has an inaccuracy — when roads are made wider, more people are encouraged to drive, and more cars will contribute to traffic.

Moreover, it causes adverse environmental impacts. Removal of trees and vegetation along the roadside are often involved when it comes to the expansion of roads resulting in deforestation and loss of wildlife habitat. This leads to a multitude of destructive impacts such as soil erosion, water pollution, increased greenhouse gas emissions, noise pollution, and loss of biodiversity.

Due to the implementation of such projects, displacement of homes occurs more often. Widening a road can require the demolition of nearby residences and businesses. This has the potential to destabilise local communities, as well as have social and economic consequences.

Residents are left with no choice but to cooperate especially when their houses are situated at “road right of way” which is a legal permit that allows people or vehicles to utilize a specified piece of property for transportation.

Residents are often overlooked, lamenting the loss of their homes and livelihood, especially given that many of them have lived in the same area for decades.

Furthermore, they have pleaded with the owners and the government to assist them. However, that is the law of the land. And now that it is in effect, the public is divided and a lot of discourse circulated on this.

Erin Tañada, a lawyer and human and labor rights advocate has explained that only if a public project cuts through one’s private property can the government indemnify