Flash floods in May
It finally rained all over Metro Manila and Rizal today. This morning’s rains were light. The drizzle was enough though to prevent me from walking the dogs. The afternoon rains were more intense though in bursts rather than sustained. Still, this resulted in flash floods everywhere. The photo below shows the situation along Katipunan Road in White Plains.
The flash floods bring us again to the flood control mess that remains unresolved. It is not just a problem of the poor, or the middle class but of everyone affected by the floods. It’s just that many are more severely affected than others. The photo above might be a slight concern of the more wealthy people in that neighborhood. They probably don’t need to worry of flood waters entering their homes and damaging properties. Other people are not as lucky and have to deal with floods for a major part of the year. The suffering is real and it’s also because many chose to elect inept, incompetent and corrupt people who themselves enabled other inept, incompetent and corrupt people to proliferate and operate with no regards for morality, even humanity.
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Is the pre-crisis traffic back?
The energy crisis resulting from the US war vs. Iran has led to a reduction in travel attributed to people reducing unnecessary trips. This was basically to save money that would otherwise be spent to cover increasing fuel prices. Reduced travel or trips mean less traffic along our roads and so has led to reduced travel times. People were sharing that it took them less than an hour from Quezon City to Antipolo Simbahan during a typical afternoon. Fortunately, too, the increasing prices coincided with the end of school for most school across the country and so students were already going on their breaks – further reducing trips.
The past days though, it seems traffic is back as the usual traffic congestion has been observed along major roads. While there have been reductions in fuel prices the past weeks, the prices are still higher compared to pre-crisis prices. So the question now is whether people have already adjusted to the expensive fuel prices one way or another? Not everyone can purchase an electric or hybrid vehicle. Not so many would have shifted from private vehicles to public transport. And not so many will be limited in their desire to travel for whatever purpose including recreational trips.
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Second Call for Papers for TSSP 2026
The Second Call for Papers for the Transportation Science Society’s 32nd Annual Conference is out. I am sharing here the call for those who may want to present or publish their papers, or perhaps participate by attending the conference. This year, the conference will be hosted by Cagayan State University in Tuguegarao City. CSU currently conducts research on electric vehicles; particularly on electric tricycles and charging stations. This is a collaboration with UP Diliman’s Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute (EEEI). The projects are supported by the Department of Science and Technology (DOST).
The paper template can be obtained by scanning the QR code provided.
CSU follows last year’s hosting by UPLB of the 31st Annual Conference. Previous host universities aside from UP Diliman were Xavier University (Cagayan de Oro), University of San Jose-Recoletos (Cebu City) and UP Visayas (Iloilo City).
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On the reduced traffic due to the energy crisis
The past weeks have seen traffic reduced along my usual routes for my commute between my home and workplace. This could be attributed to the energy crisis as, apparently, many have chosen to plan their trips and use other options other than private/personal transportation for their travels. The reduction in traffic is probably due to reduced numbers of private cars and motorcycles as people cut down on unnecessary trips. Of course, most schools are off at this time of the year so that means a significant number of trips are off the roads (and rails in the case of Metro Manila).
My travel time is only about 60 to 70% of the usual during peak hours. And about half during off-peak. That is a significant reduction in travel time and perhaps translates to not just reduced fuel consumption in general but also reduced emissions as well. On weekends, I also observed that there are less motorcycle traffic to and from Antipolo where I reside. I am referring to the groups who usually have their recreational rides during weekends. Did bicycle traffic increase? My observation is that there seems to be an increase for the weekdays but it’s about the same on weekends. Bicycles, after all, are not affected by the fuel price hikes. Perhaps people who can bike opt for the mode instead of their motorized vehicles? The only way to determine if indeed there were significant mode shift is to do surveys. But for now, careful observation not of traffic but travel times will suffice as proof of the easing of traffic due to the crisis.
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May-time pilgrimage
Last April 30-May 1, there was another ‘Alay Lakad’ to the shrine in Antipolo. The pilgrimage walk started in Quiapo Church (Black Nazarene) and ended at the Antipolo church (Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage). Dubbed the “Walk for Peace,” there usually was a lot of people considering the number of devotees as well as May 1 being perhaps a holiday. Antipolo and Taytay LGUs at least put up stations for assistance to pilgrims.
We started hearing Mass again at the shrine last Sunday as our daughter prefers going there instead of at the chapel at our village. She’s gone to two Lenten Alay Lakads the past two years so maybe she felt this was a kind of pilgrimage for her, too.
For those walking from Metro Manila, there are two general routes to Antipolo. One is via Ortigas Avenue Extension and Tikling junction and the other is via Sumulong Highway and Masinag junction. You can take public transportation from Cubao or Crossing where there are jeepneys and buses. Many terminate at the Robinsons Antipolo mall terminal. But there are many other smaller terminals around the city including some near the Simbahan itself. There are also many tricycles that can take you to the shrine from various points in Antipolo including the Line 2 station at Masinag. Line 2, of course, is a convenient and fast way to get to Antipolo from Manila and Quezon City.
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Caught (up) in traffic 