I guess this bears repeating: Everyone, be prepared for heavy traffic in the coming years because of upcoming projects to improve our roads. The MMDA has already issued their warning on congestion, as the Skyway Stage 3 construction has started last Monday, February 17.
According to the MMDA, there will be at least a few more road projects lined up:
- NAIA Expressway Phase 2
- Gil Puyat-Makati-Avenue-Paseo de Roxas underpass
- Sta. Monica-Lawton Avenue bridge
- CP Garcia Avenue-McKinley Hill ramp
- Repair and asphalt overlay of Magallanes Interchange
- EDSA-Taft Avenue flyover
- MRT Line 3/ LRT Line 1 extension common station
- LRT Line 2 East extension up to Masinag
- LRT Line 1 Extension (Cavite)
- EDSA-Roosevelt Ave. interchange
- Espana Avenue-Lacson Avenue interchange
- Repair/rehabilitation and improvement of South Superhighway Makati
- NLEX-SLEX connector road above the PNR alignment
- EDSA-West Avenue-North Avenue interchange
Since this is a tech blog, I want to list some (tech-related?) stuff we can do to prepare for the daily torture that is Metro Manila traffic.
- Charge your phone/tablet/mp3 player before you leave. You don’t want to be caught without your phone or other forms of distractions that could keep your mind off the traffic.
- If for some reason you keep forgetting to charge your device, consider buying a powerbank.
- Download apps that keep you updated on traffic situations. Apps like the MMDA app for Android and iOS, Waze, Google Maps, etc. If you have the data connection, it helps to know whats happening.
- Alternatively, you can also follow government agencies in Twitter and Facebook. If you are already stuck in traffic, you could at least vent and see people as frustrated as you in Waze, Twitter, FB, etc.
- Download a game. Flappy Birds would be perfect for this. It will frustrate you so much that you’ll forget about the traffic. If you missed installing the game before its demise, consider the many other games in Google Play and the App Store.
- If you don’t like playing games, you can catch up on your favorite movie or TV series. I guess this is a good a time as any to watch what you missed.
- Read an ebook. Get a good app for ebooks (I use Aldiko) and download a good ebook.
- Or just listen to music. Create a playlist designed to keep you calm. Losing your head in heavy traffic will just make things worse. A good set of earphones will help too.
- Consider getting a data plan. Nothing is as distracting as the Internet. I’m sure everyone will quickly fill up the monthly data cap imposed by the telcos.
Please feel free to add to the list. I’m sure there are other ways to pass the time while hopelessly stuck in traffic.
Besides the list, you could always leave earlier to get a jump on the everyone else before congestion strikes. But sometimes, even that fails too.
You may want to check out MMDA’s official twitter account for traffic updates. Also, please check out Rappler’s list of schools and hospitals that will be affected by the construction projects for more information regarding your community.
Hope this helps. Good luck everyone.
