Moving about in Singapore

I’m back in Singapore and enjoying going around the city using its efficient public transportation system and pedestrian facilities. I am quite at home with the system considering I lived in Japan for quite some time and commuted daily using the rail and bus systems there. It was in Japan where I had a first hand experience of what an efficient public transport system should be whether for long distance commuting (i.e., I knew some supercommuters in Japan who used the Shinkansen to go to the office or laboratory every weekday although using the Tokaido Line to commute between Kanagawa to Tokyo qualifies as supercommuting.) or for short distance trips.

I was able to appreciate mobility in Japan considering the interconnectivity of transport modes and the ease by which one can use the system. Even the payment of fares was efficient as one had many options for paying fares and could use various cards including using either the Pasmo card issued by private railway companies or the Suica card issued by Japan Railways (JR). One only needed to load the cards with enough credits to be able to use the cards for not only transport fares but even for paying for items such as food and drinks. One can even personalize the card and it can be reloaded after a period of not being able to use the card.

Singapore is not so much different from Japan in terms of transport systems and if one considers the electronic road pricing (ERP) being applied throughout the state, may even be more advanced in applications of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS). Moving around in Singapore is so easy considering its rail and bus systems. There are even a number of bus types plying routes around the system including articulated buses much like those used by Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) systems and double deckers like the ones in Hongkong and London. I haven’t noticed and am not aware if there are paratransit systems outside the human powered rickshaws I found near Bugis but which appears only during night-time, considering the city-state being compact and there seems no need for paratransit like the jeepneys, multicabs and tricycles in the Philippines, or the tuktuks in Thailand. There should be no need considering the strategic placing of bus stops and train stations throughout the city and the well planned pedestrian facilities that complement these mass transit modes.

I have always looked forward to having such a system realized in the Philippines whether its going to be in Metro Manila or another city. It is still a vision that has often been derailed what with the systems that have been constructed so far and the weak handling of issues pertaining to bus, jeepney and tricycle services in the Philippines. And some people even argue that “service” shouldn’t be a word to be used to describe public transport in the Philippines. Rationalization of public transport systems back home seems a distant vision considering the chaos surrounding the matter. We can only hope that our efforts will not go to naught and that we can realize an efficient system within our lifespans. Perhaps that will be our legacy for the coming generations, for them to have system that they can be proud of and not drool over when they experience such in other countries such as Singapore.

Bawal ang pasaway

It took me some time since the last when I wrote about my experiences of being interviewed for media. I believe I've had many enjoyable interviews including guesting on recorded or live shows. The former included the now defunct "Hot Seat" hosted by Jessica Soho on what was QTV Channel 11. Jessica was the best interview I had and she was really very good in making people comfortable and asking the right questions. Parang nagkukuwentuhan lang kayo but she was able to draw out the answers to even tough or sensitive questions like the ones she asked the other guests. I think I was a guest of the show to talk about road traffic safety and probably was asked questions pertaining to how dangerous our roads were. Well they are still quite dangerous now and despite the combined efforts of many people, agencies and entities, there's still so much to do to improve the situation.

That topic on road traffic safety brings me to my latest guesting and this one perhaps is among the most enjoyable considering that I have so much respect and am actually a fan of the host Professor Emeritus Winnie Monsod. This evening's episode of "Bawal ang Pasaway kay Mareng Winnie" on NewsTV 11 featured pedestrian safety in particular and road traffic safety in general in Metropolitan Manila. I had the pleasure of meeting my fellow guests prior to the taping of the show 2 weeks ago. One guest was a Mr. Gutierrez, who headed the special unit of the MMDA for Commonwealth Avenue, and whom I learned was a trainee of our center from way back. Another guest was Dr. Raffy Consunji of SafeKids Philippines and a faculty member of the UP-PGH. There was also Dr. Aurora Corpuz-Mendoza, the chair of the UP Diliman's Department of Psychology. Finally, there was Atty. Emerson Carlos, the MMDA Assistant General Manager for Operations and head of its Transport and Traffic Management Office. I was in a couple of segments with Prof. Monsod and Atty. Carlos and the format was more like a discussion with Prof. Monsod facilitating and asking questions about the state of road safety in Metro Manila. I especially liked the part where we talked about statistics and the economics of traffic safety. She obviously knew her stuff and her staff did their homework on the facts. Her conclusions toward the end of the show provides a clear picture of the costs of road crashes in Metro Manila and articulates what must be done considering the losses incurred. Hopefully, her message is received well, her points understood, and decision makers heed her call for action to address our dangerous roads.

Photo below with Prof. Emeritus Winnie Monsod (UPSE) after the tapings:

Photo below was taken after the segments discussing state of traffic safety along Metro Manila roads. From left: Attty. Carlos of the MMDA, Prof. Monsod, and me.

Sem-end, Part 6: Graduation Speakers

When we graduated in 1993, our graduation speaker for the University Commencement Exercise was then President Fidel V. Ramos. He was elected President of the Republic of the Philippines in the previous year, winning a plurality after securing the endorsement of Pres. Corazon C. Aquino in what was then a surprise considering that FVR ran under his fledgling Lakas party and Cory belonged to the ruling Laban ng Demokratikong Pilipino (LDP), which fielded then Speaker of the House of Representatives Ramon Mitra.

I remember the 1992 presidential elections very well as it was the first time I voted. I believe it captured the imagination of a generation born and raised during the martial law period and much of the debates were on issues pertaining to new politics considering that EDSA and the atrocities of martial law were still fresh in the minds of the people. There were also references to trapo (traditional politicians). I shall talk about these elections in another blog as there are many things about it that I remember and believe should be written down if only to present my views on that part of our history.

Meanwhile, I don't really remember the guest speaker during the recognition rites of the College of Engineering at the time though I suspect it was then Energy Secretary Francisco L. Viray, who was freshly recruited to solve the energy crisis (read: regular blackouts). He was succeeded at the time at the college by the future water czar and eventual President of Mapua Dr. Reynaldo B. Vea.