by FFE PH News Staff

President Aquino watch the video launching of the Traffic Signalization System. Photo: Malacanang Photo Bureau

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has launched yesterday a new high-end system called Traffic Signalization System (TSS) with the aim to ease the traffic in Metro Manila.

The new technology will allow MMDA to remotely control the traffic lights all over Metro Manila from its Command Control Center in Makati City.

“TSS aims to upgrade, automate, and optimize the management and traffic engineering installations around the metropolis,” MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said.

President Benigno Aquino III, who was present at the launch, said that the P295- million state-of-the-art technology is only the first phase in improving MMDA’s system and is eyeing completion by 2016.

Photo: Malacanang Photo Bureau

TSS includes the installation of 25 new surveillance cameras, and 36 45-inch televisions to monitor 85 intersections in Metro Manila. MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said that in the future, the TSS will be able to monitor up to 500 intersections.

The TSS will not only help monitor traffic but hopefully will also promote pedestrian and commuter’s safety as crimes in the streets will be recorded by the high-resolution surveillance cameras and suspects can be more easily identified.

Although the TSS is a definitely an improvement, the government should also look into the set of laws in the current traffic system.

The tragic accident last 16 December involving a speeding bus in the South Luzon Express Way (SLEX) that fell down the Skyway killing at least 22 people strongly illustrates the necessity for the government to implement stricter rules when granting driving licenses; deploy more incorruptible traffic enforcer and strictly enforce existing traffic rules. Drivers who commit violations should not easily be off the hook, to prevent further accidents in the road.

MMDA should look into the ever-growing number of cars in Metro Manila as well. Cited by President Aquino himself, roughly 26 percent of all registered vehicles in the Philippines are in the National Capital Region.