MITRA, Karyll Ann Gulmatico

POL112- Problems in Philippine Local Gov’t & Administration

Dr. Maria Myriam B. Bacud

On the year 2012, the population of Quezon City has alreadyreached over 3 million. The city has a population growth rate (PGR) of2.42 percent. If this average annual PGR continues, it is expected thatthe city’s population will double in 29 years. QC holds the record of thehighest total income last 2013, but because of its big population, thecity wasn’t even able to place in the top ten cities with the highest percapita income that determines the total output of a city. This may be anational problem, but since Quezon City has the biggest populationout of all the Philippine cities, the local government should addressthis issue more thoroughly.

Empower women, especially young ones, to plan how many children theywant while providing them with information on how to prevent earlypregnancy.

Provide more jobs for everyone. Studies show that couples that stay at homehave a higher chance of conceiving a child compared to those that areworking.

Invest on programs for education. Studies also show that most educatedpeople choose to have smaller families, making them focus on each child.Not only it will alleviate overpopulation, it will also help break the cycle ofpoverty.

Let people know the social cost of overpopulation so as to encourage themto keep their family small.

Over the past years, Quezon City had been seriouslydevastated by several typhoons that visited the country.During the early days of August 2012, monsoon rains or“habagat”, poured non-stop leaving behind P62 millionworth of damages in infrastructures and public properties.The damage rate also skyrocketed during the visit of Ondoyand the first typhoon in history to ever cross the Metro,Milenyo.

Improving the city’s river and draining systems through dredgingand de-clogging of waterways, especially on flood-prone areas tominimize damage to properties.

Encourage every household to check their property’s drainagesystem.

Setup flood barriers on flood prone areas like rivers and waterways.

Create a natural flood defense plan that includes setting up ditchesor notches that will divert flood water into open land or rivers.

Advocate on tree planting programs that can help reduce flooding.

As flooding is one of QC’s major problems, it inevitablybrings to light another major issue that needs to beaddressed: garbage disposal. During heavy downpours,severe flooding occurs, mostly caused by cloggedwaterways and rivers, thus, making it hard for the flood tosubside easily.

Enforce fines on people who are caught littering and establish moreno littering zones around the city.

Emphasize the importance of 4Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.

The local government of Quezon City has already implementedvarious ordinances to improve its waste management system. Theseordinances include:

Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance

Plastic and Styrofoam Ban

Garbage Segregation Program

Crime is a serious concern in urban areas of thePhilippines. In Quezon City alone, 993 crime incidents wererecorded for the month of May—highlighted by the shootingrampage on Commonwealth Avenue that led to sevendeaths—and 113 incidents in just two weeks in the month ofJune. In a famous statistic website; www.numbeo.com,Quezon City’s level of crime reached up to 77.78%, and thesafety level during night time dropped to as low as 25%.

Increasing police visibility through intensified patrols andcheckpoints, especially on crowded places like malls, parks, schools,etc.

More intensified police response during crimes.

Enforce gun-control measures more strictly.

Constant reminder for every citizen to be vigilant and cautious toavoid being a victim of any crime.

Implement a joint effort between private citizens and local policethrough a neighborhood crime watch to lower the crime ratepercentage of the city.

The large number of informal settlers is a majorconcern, not just in Quezon City alone but in the entirecountry. The slum areas in Quezon City are often subject toroad widening and infrastructure projects, but it is a difficultordeal to convince the dwellers of that areas to leave inpeace.

Right now, Quezon City offers subsidized housing in Rodriguez, Rizal;payable for P800 on the first three years, and P200 for the yearsthereafter—up to 30 years.

The city also gives out P50, 000 cash incentives for every family thatwill be relocated.

QC also built pro-poor housing communities like the Bistekville 1and 2.

To lessen the number of informal settlers, the city can promote morepoverty alleviation programs and regular jobs with a secured tenureas opposed to contractual or project-based jobs.

Every day, it has been a pain in the neck to travel themajor roads of Quezon City, or any other city for that matter,because of the heavy, eternal-like traffic. Roads likeCommonwealth Avenue, North Avenue, Elliptical Road, QC’sshare of EDSA, and the former traffic free road—QuezonAvenue. Commuters like me, find it hysterical to be stuck inthe middle of a road for hours. Though heavy traffic is everycity’s issue, as QC is a well-developed city, it should at leastbe able to address the issue more intensely.

Enforce measures to slow road traffic like speed limits. Right now,Commonwealth Avenue implements a 60 KPH speed limit for all kinds ofvehicles.

Assign more traffic enforcers to stakeout for over speeding drivers.

Traffic enforcers must be on the side of the road and not on the middle of it toavoid occupying lanes that are meant for vehicles.

Introduce more cycle lanes around the city and not just on major roads.

Increase the number of towing zones to lessen cars that are parking on thewrong places that are also causing traffic.

Hold seminars to encourage residents to walk or use public transport to lessenthe number of cars on the road.

Different types of pollution torment every city in thecountry. Quezon City is home to some of the major roads inthe Metro where public utility vehicles like buses, cabs, etc.often travel along or to. Metro Manila has also been declaredas the most polluted place in the country and Quezon City isone of the contributing cities to that saddening statistic.

Implement trainings/seminars about the impact of good driving behavior andproper engine maintenance that will result to reduced emissions in complianceto the Clean Air Act, reduction in maintenance cost and increase in fuelsavings.

Work more on city ordinances promoting clean air and anti-pollution activities.The local government of QC already implements “QC’s Clean Air Initiatives”(July 2011) that was launched together with MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino.

Enforce higher fines on smoke belchers.

Introduce more cycle lanes around the city to promote cycling.

Push for eco-friendly alternatives like electric cars or anything that couldlessen harmful emissions.