I couldn't help but make a few quick comparisons of Manila and Singapore upon my return to my country and write about these while they are still quite fresh in my mind. Being in the field of transportation, the first thing I noticed when we drove from the airport was that the roads were so bumpy with potholes here and there. In most sections where asphalt is used, the overlay is poorly executed, resulting in an uneven ride. The impacts of such not only to the passengers but to the vehicle itself are often unappreciated and drivers do not realize the effects of such "quality" of roads on their fuel consumption, emissions and yes, vehicle suspensions.
Another comparison dawned upon me when we negotiated the short tunnel as we ascended the C5 section from E. Rodriguez to Katipunan. The tunnel was still poorly lighted though there was a slight improvement from the old lighting installed when the tunnel became operational many years ago. The tunnel walls were dirty, and this was clear to any observer because of the white tiles used for the walls that were supposed to be low maintenance (assuming of course, that regular maintenance was performed by whoever was in-charge). It seems to me that most, if not all, our tunnels are just that - poorly lighted and dirty. These are the equivalent of poor maintenance of what was already a poorly designed infrastructure.
These are a stark contrast to the very impressive road infrastructure in Singapore, where the highway pavements are of excellent quality and the tunnels very clean and well lighted. Is it because they are a wealthy city-state that they can afford to have these and we can't? Or is it just a matter of those responsible for our infrastructure not being able to deliver the quality we desire and we deserve considering the taxes we pay?
While some people might consider my quick comparisons as perhaps something that led to hasty conclusions, I would like to remind the reader that what I just wrote about are pretty much established facts that anyone can plainly see and experience going around either Manila or Singapore. It seems that when it comes to the quality of our infrastructure, we accept these as something we would have to endure for the rest of our lives when it does not have to be like that. Are our taxes really working for us or are they working for our inconvenience ( an obvious spin to the signs we commonly see when there is road construction - "Sorry for the inconvenience. Your taxes are working for you." )? Or maybe some people aren't paying their taxes or the right taxes? These are quite serious questions regarding our taxes but the point probably isn't just whether our taxes are enough but if these revenues are actually used wisely and efficiently. What kind of leaders have we had and do we have now that we still have poor road infrastructure and in the capital city at that?
I will write about this more in future blogs here and in my other account. I think it is my way of reflecting during this Holy Week that I feel obliged to document these stuff and offer my humble yet scathing opinions not just as a civil servant but as a citizen of this country who has not given up (yet) in as far as putting an honest effort to improve quality of life in our beloved country.
Another comparison dawned upon me when we negotiated the short tunnel as we ascended the C5 section from E. Rodriguez to Katipunan. The tunnel was still poorly lighted though there was a slight improvement from the old lighting installed when the tunnel became operational many years ago. The tunnel walls were dirty, and this was clear to any observer because of the white tiles used for the walls that were supposed to be low maintenance (assuming of course, that regular maintenance was performed by whoever was in-charge). It seems to me that most, if not all, our tunnels are just that - poorly lighted and dirty. These are the equivalent of poor maintenance of what was already a poorly designed infrastructure.
These are a stark contrast to the very impressive road infrastructure in Singapore, where the highway pavements are of excellent quality and the tunnels very clean and well lighted. Is it because they are a wealthy city-state that they can afford to have these and we can't? Or is it just a matter of those responsible for our infrastructure not being able to deliver the quality we desire and we deserve considering the taxes we pay?
While some people might consider my quick comparisons as perhaps something that led to hasty conclusions, I would like to remind the reader that what I just wrote about are pretty much established facts that anyone can plainly see and experience going around either Manila or Singapore. It seems that when it comes to the quality of our infrastructure, we accept these as something we would have to endure for the rest of our lives when it does not have to be like that. Are our taxes really working for us or are they working for our inconvenience ( an obvious spin to the signs we commonly see when there is road construction - "Sorry for the inconvenience. Your taxes are working for you." )? Or maybe some people aren't paying their taxes or the right taxes? These are quite serious questions regarding our taxes but the point probably isn't just whether our taxes are enough but if these revenues are actually used wisely and efficiently. What kind of leaders have we had and do we have now that we still have poor road infrastructure and in the capital city at that?
I will write about this more in future blogs here and in my other account. I think it is my way of reflecting during this Holy Week that I feel obliged to document these stuff and offer my humble yet scathing opinions not just as a civil servant but as a citizen of this country who has not given up (yet) in as far as putting an honest effort to improve quality of life in our beloved country.
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