Reflections

The past two weeks has been a roller coaster of being here and there.. of seeing the government sector's top and even lower levels of transport management, planning and design. How I wish I could replicate myself to meet the technical needs of our country. There's so much to be done. There are more provincial engineers who need assistance and coaching in terms of road design/engineering. I resolve then to work diligently, faithfully giving my best to the tasks given to me right now. I know I can't do it all. But by God's grace, I can do my part well.

NCTS’ First Offering of Traffic Impact Assessment for Technical Evaluators

The participants

The University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies had a “soft” first offering of their course on Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) last July 5-7, 2011 in Toyota Training Room, UP NCTS, Diliman, Quezon City.

“Soft” in the sense that there were few participants joined by one from Bayauan representing Visayas, three for General Santos City representing Mindanao and the rest from different parts of Luzon such as Bulacan, Laguna and cities within Metro Manila. The participants were members from the traffic management division of most Local Government Units (LGUs). They are the evaluators from the city or LGU side before a proponent could push through with any project. They are the evaluators who give building permits or certificate of occupancy to developers or would-be businesses ib their locale.

Some of them may be reluctant on attending this course but towards the end of the three-day event, a more enlightened faces can be seen in them. It is through more knowledge about TIA could they be truly empowered to be effective in their roles and responsibilities in their respective cities. As they say, “Knowledge is power.”

On the third day, a participant asked Dr. Cal this question: “What are or should be our next steps as we go back to our provinces and cities? Because at this moment I or may be most of us seem to be lost on what to do after this enlightening course. We have learned or we were equipped now about TIA but what are to be expected from us as we head home?”

Dr. Cal then challenged them to convince their superiors or mayors to come up with city ordinance on TIA, be more proactive by sharing what they learned to their neighboring cities, and to apply what they learned in their practice.

During the closing remarks, the participants’ representative gave feedback and his short speech was deeply encouraging and inspiring not only to his fellow participants but even to the NCTS admin and staff who organized the event. Indeed, they were sent by their mayors because their mayors believed in them. Then through them, lies the power to convince their bosses that there is a need for TIA. And changes in their cities will start from few but bold people like them.

What is TIA?

TIA stands for Traffic Impact Asssessment. TIA is an evaluation of the potential effects that a particular development’s traffic will have on the transportation network in its impact area.

Importance of TIA

There is a need to assess proposed developments in terms of their tranport impacts on the area and the environment in general. TIA is essential because of the significance of traffic generated by proposed developments which can be identified in advance and future imppacts can be planned for.

Principal Goals of a TIA Study

· To identify the transport and traffic impacts of a particular development project

· To assess and analyze these impacts and

· To identify the mitigating measures to address these traffic impacts

Reference: Lecture Notes from Dr. Crispin Emmanuel D. Diaz, UP SURP, during the NCTS’ first offering of Traffic Impact Assessment for Technical Evaluators, June 5-7, 2011, UP NCTS, Diliman, Quezon City

One bad waiting day

A glimpse of engineer-einjel's journal

June 27, 2011 Monday

7:20 AM

I went out of our house for work. I live in QC and I work in Manila. It was a Monday. There were a lot of people waiting for either jeep, bus, or FX. The crowd was composed of students, employees, etc.

7:45 AM

The people were competing for a ride towards each of their destinations. The buses, jeeps and FX were almost always full. I was still waiting as I actively compete with the people around me.

8:00 AM

I wasn't able to get a ride still.. Thinking that I might be late for work. Sigh.

8:10 AM

Fidgeting while observing how poor and bad the public transport is. Frowning, how easy it is to curse but I ended up praying instead and speaking a blessing for the drivers, the roads, the pedestrian, vehicles, and the transport environment.

I can't help but wish to go back to Korea where everything in the roads was in order. Yes, I just came back from a trip abroad and I can't help but compare what I see at the moment to what I saw and experienced there. My heart grieved with how bad our public transport is for the commuters. For taxpayers, this isn't fair.

8:20 AM

I was finally on board an FX. Thinking may be that is why God called me in this transport sector. I gotta move on as I hope for the best.