[sustran] fwd: letter to editor from Phil sustainable transport network

[SUSTRAN Resource Centre]

SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORT NETWORK
14 Mabait St., Teacher's Village, Diliman, Quezon City
Tel. 9253739	e-mail: heckler at quickweb.com.ph

18 October 1999


The Editor
The Philippine Daily Inquirer
P.O. Box 2353
Makati Central Post Office
Makati City

Dear Editor:

The plan of MMDA Chairman Binay to ban private cars from Metro Manila's
streets one day per week is a pleasant surprise because it is the first
intelligent announcement from government to be directed at the twin
problems of traffic congestion and motor vehicle pollution.  For once, the
MMDA has seen fit to directly address the real problem - too many private
cars.  This proliferation of private vehicles, the majority of which carry
one or two passengers, is the most inefficient and profligate way to
respond to our people's mobility needs.  In the jargon of economists and
technocrats, it is an irrational behavior and, therefore, should be
discouraged.

A carless day will help decongest the streets and momentarily clear the
air.  It will certainly make our commute easier, those of us (the majority
of commuters) who depend on public transport and those of us who bike to
work and school.  In the long run, it should alter people's attitudes
towards the daily commute and make them realize the silliness of private
car use.  The "incovenience" of a few, albeit admittedly influential, car
users is a small price to pay for the broad benefits to society that
carless days promise to bring.  That is why the most progressive cities of
the world have begun to discourage the use of private automobiles.  Metro
Manila can do no less.

We, the undersigned environmental NGOs and concerned individuals, support
this proposal for a carless day in Metro Manila and call on the people of
our cities to do likewise.  By this simple step, we stand to lose the
pollution that chokes us and threatens our health, our bloated oil import
bill, the frustration of helplessly sitting in daily traffic, and the
millions of pesos worth of labor time lost to long commutes.  We can only
gain a better environment for ourselves and our children.

Signed:

Sustainable Transport Network:
Nes Caoili - Community Volunteers Movement
Ramon Fernan III - Bayk Aksyon (Bike Action)
Sam Ferrer - Green Forum Philippines
Gerry Galamay - Volunteers' Movement for Green Concerns
Terry Nolasco - Stewards of the Earth
Manny Onalan - Upland Development Institute
Roberto Verzola - Philippine Greens