Traffic Management

"Traffic management is a term used to embody the activities undertaken by a highway transportation agency to improve roadway system safety, efficiency, and effectiveness for both providers and consumers of transportation services. There are two distinct types of traffic management. The first one utilizes traditional traffic engineering tools or simple devices to regulate or control traffic. The second relies more on advanced technology through the use of Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITS)." (Sigua, 2008)

In the Philippines, there are several government agencies which deal with traffic management. These agencies include the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC), Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH), Traffic Engine­ering Center, Philip­pine Na­tional Police-Traffic Management Group, and the Land Transportation Office. According to Lidasan as mentioned in a news report, poor coordination among government agencies occur since their functions and responsibilities often overlap. Moreover, even if policy making and implementation or enforcement are assigned to specific agencies, these organizations usually disregard or bypass one another in the performance of their functions. The following paragraphs further identify the key roles of the different agencies for an effective traffic management.

MMDA’s role is primarily to coordinate and integrate the efforts of local governments and the central government in drawing up policies and plans and implementing transport projects within Metro Manila. The responsibility for road construction and maintenance is divided between DPWH for national roads and LGUs for local roads. The DPWH Traffic Engineering Center has taken the responsibility for road planning that requires traffic engineering. DOTC is in charge of regulating vehicle fleet and driver licensing through its Land Transportation Office. The Land Transportation Franchising Regulatory Board regulates public transport services and fares. DOTC also plans the extensions to Metro Manila’s rail systems through the Light Rail Transit Authority (LRTA) and the Philippine National Railways.

Responsibilities for traffic management, however, should not just be relied upon the government agencies but a collaborative effort among the policy makers, implementors as well as the ordinary people - even children in grade school to senior citizens. Every citizen has to be educated about road traffic safety rules and signs. Rep. Narciso D. Santiago III has filed House Bill 4745 which aims to have a separate subject integrated in the grade school and high school curricula that includes the teaching of road traffic safety rules and signs since young people are the easiest to train.



Sources:

• Fundamentals of Traffic Engineering, Sigua, R., University of the Philippines Press 2008

• Institutional bottleneck slows down response to traffic problem. November 12, 2002. Manila Times (http://www.manilatimes.net/others/special/2002/nov/12/20021112spe1.html)
• Road traffic safety rules and signs to be taught in school. August 17, 2008. (http://www.gov.ph/news/default.asp?i=21908)