Commuting Blues

HANNAH JOYCE ANDAYA

With classes returning to inperson setup, it also means that commuters, especially students, have to brace themselves for "carmageddon". Public commutes in the country have been dehumanizing and truth be told, the transport system is broken with a lot of inefficient officials still in denial about addressing the issue. Going back to the usual pre-pandemic transportation state, what has changed? In pursuit of productivity, then and now, commuters still deserve better.

Millions of students returned to school for the first time in August 2021, more than two years after the pandemic struck the country This forced the educational institutions to close down and students to adapt to the online learning experience

Consequently, in Memorandum Order No 16, the Commission on Higher Education (CHEd) has ordered higher education institutions to devote at least 50 percent of their total learning hours to onsite learning experiences Traffic has worsened since face-to-face classes resumed, with more traffic jams left and right Commuters have spent more time on the road than attending their actual appointments

Manila is ranked eighth among cities in the world with the worst traffic according to a study conducted by GoShorty, an insurance technology website based in the United Kingdom It also states that Filipino commuters lose an average of 98 hours in a year due to traffic alone With commuters having no choice but to be stuck at home during the pandemic, given a decent chance and opportunity, the government failed to address the issue of mass transportation

But enough of the past, how about now? It is especially worst in the metropolitan area The number one challenge these days is spiraling fuel prices, despite the fact that most restrictions have been eased as coronavirus infections have decreased There are also the government’s plans to privatize the MRT Line 3 and the poor implementation of the PUV modernization which displaces small operators and drivers Experts predict that more students and workers will use ride-hailing services such as Grab and Angkas to avoid traffic Still, it is not sustainable Long queues ahead will there always be a price to pay to achieve convenience?

The government has attempted to alleviate commuters' plight by providing free rides Some officials also suggest commuters to leave their homes early for convenience Such solutions, however, only show how out of touch those in power are While there are privileged officials who take public transport when they are overseas, it is ironic that they can’t promote the same efficiency in their motherland The mass transportation system is broken and there could have been more significant laws to address this issue only if they set their priorities straight The call for more pro-people, efficient public transport should be prioritized Whatever that is, commuters deserve better