Granted, Quezon City has a much larger road network than Marikina, and many more vehicles pass through the city daily.  This is no excuse, however, for the lack of any genuine improvement in the past three years.  Even main roads on which cars and trucks travel at high speed are dangerously unlit-try A. Bonifacio, a main link to the North Expressway.  Or the Katipunan Road-Garcia intersection, near the U.P. area.  No streetlights in sight. Or Araneta Avenue between E. Rodriguez and Quezon Avenue--there are streetlights in place here, but they're NEVER ON!

We are not singling out Quezon City as some sort of Seventh Circle of Driver's Hell in the Philippines.  Many of our cities are similarly delinquent.  Neither is Marikina perfect.  However, the effort to improve conditions in Marikina clearly stands out against the inaction and indifference being exhibited by the Quezon City government. 

There are just a few simple requirements for safe, efficient and enjoyable driving, and we urge all mayors in the Philippines to invest a fraction of their hard-earned revenue on granting these requirements.   Whatever you spend for these will surely be paid back by increased efficiency (and revenues), a decrease in accidents and illnesses due to pollution and the goodwill of your constituencies-always useful in an election: 

  • Well-maintained roads.  Roads that are free from floods, potholes and illegally parked vehicles.
  • Smooth and logical traffic flow.  This means that buses and jeeps don't block all lanes except one just to load and unload passengers. 
  • Design alternate routes and close off certain intersections whenever possible.  If you can't spare the traffic enforcers, TURN ON THE TRAFFIC LIGHTS!
  • Adequate lighting, particularly in intersections.
The public who travel on these roads-which is practically all of us-will be very grateful. 

Now, here's a typical scene in Quezon City: either NO TRAFFIC LIGHTS or there are traffic lights, BUT THEY AREN'T WORKING! Good thing this day was a Sunday, just imagine how these people felt it happened during a rush hour...
At least we know Jollibee cares. Its ridiculous message may imply that this sign was  erected by the QC government, but it's actually donated by Jollibee as a sort-of advertisement for their Katipunan Branch. This makes us wonder, where in the world does all the money for traffic / street purposes in QC go? In "someone's pocket" I suppose.