Traffic in Los Baños: Sign of Progress, Problem or Progressing Problem?

Back in 2007, when I was still living in the city, I was told by my highschool friend that I'd be surprised that our beloved Los Baños enforces strict traffic rules, no spitting and no jaywalking and the citizens have grown to be disciplined. So when I came home last year, I was surprised that one of the major complaints is the traffic in our so-called progressive municipality.


So in my attempt to really check what's going on, I used "Photo Voice" (Thanks Faye Abalos for the inspiration) to let the photos speak for themselves... oh well, I just couldn't really resist including captions. 

Build up starts at 5pm

Parking Everywhere

View from Robinson's Town Mall

Our traffic enforcers

Vehicles in all directions. What's missing in this picture?  

Traffic enforcers while on the job. A lady is crossing the street while there's a speeding motorcycle. 

What's this? Wait for it..

There's literally a COW jaywalking! 

Along Grove

Double Parking

Aren't these supposed to be at the market or in a fruit stand?

I presented this in my Methods of Policy Analysis class. Our Policy Analysis class aims to check an existing policy and determine it's effectiveness and why it doesn't work. I told the class before the start of my presentation that I am doing mine on a small scale focusing only along the vicinity of Lopez Avenue going to UPLB campus. I was determined to get more information and check for an existing Municipal Order (MO) but when I reached the official webpage of the Los Baños, the web page said that the account has been suspended. :(


I showed this picture to the whole class and gave recommendations, for I believe that if you can criticize, you might as well suggest.

•       Assign effective and trained Traffic Enforcers that has good traffic forecasting skills and re-routing plan.

•        Abolish double parking along business establishments and areas.

•        Strict monitoring of citizens using the pedestrian lanes and jeepney drivers following proper lanes and traffic signs.

I was told by a member of the class that I should consider suggesting points on infrastructure.

Infrastructure, as defined by Wikipedia:

 is the basic physical and organizational structures needed for the operation of a society or enterprise,or the services and facilities necessary for an economy to function. The term typically refers to the technical structures that support a society, such as roads, water supply, sewers, power grids, telecommunications, and so forth. Viewed functionally, infrastructure facilitates the production of goods and services; for example, roads enable the transport of raw materials to a factory, and also for the distribution of finished products to markets. In some contexts, the term may also include basic social services such as schools and hospitals.

Okay, so what infrastructure? Seriously? More parking lots? Our own version of the MRT? As you've seen in the photos, those are just the size of our little road going to UPLB. 

Then I was told (by another person this time) that I should look at it on an "international level" and cited how come it "worked" for other provinces in the US.

Seriously? Again? I thought we are working on something that exists right before our eyes now suddenly from the small suburban town of Los Baños, now we're comparing it to the provinces of US? 

There we go again. Comparing things to USA.

While the suggestions (of my seniors, that is) is "dreamy" the problem is, our land areas are not the same as of those in US. So we better quit comparing and "work with the given" (Thanks SP for the term) . 

How come Philippines produce really good economists, policy analysts and consultants but can't even manage to apply it on our own turf?