DOTC: Brand New MRT Coaches May Help Ease Traffic by 2015

Wazzup Pilipinas!

With Metro Manila traffic expected to worsen further over the next few years due to the implementation of multiple infrastructure projects, the Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) is hoping that it will finally be allowed to add forty-eight (48) brand new Light Rail Vehicles (LRVs) to the Metro Rail Transit III (MRT-3) system at the soonest possible time.

“We hope that the order preventing us from adding brand new LRVs will be lifted immediately, for the public’s sake. The DOTC will be able to increase MRT-3’s capacity within 2 to 3 years starting from the time that the court allows us to proceed. Since more passengers will be able to take the train, EDSA traffic should be mitigated considerably,” said DOTC Spokesperson Michael Arthur Sagcal.

The transport agency’s MRT-3 Capacity Expansion Project involves the purchase of 48 brand new LRVs through an open and transparent bidding process conducted last year. After the contract was awarded to China’s Dalian Locomotive and Rolling Stock Company in January, however, the Regional Trial Court (RTC) of Makati issued a Temporary Order of Protection (TOP) to halt the process.

LINE Theme Shop Lets You Decorate Your Messaging Experience

Wazzup Pilipinas!

LINE, the world’s leading mobile platform with over 350 million users, has unveiled its new Theme Shop for Android and iPhone users in the Philippines. Through the store, Filipinos can purchase themes that decorate their LINE chat visuals with LINE characters Leonard and Sally. What’s more, the themes of the ever popular Cony and Brown are still available to users for free.

Since first being introduced in June 2013, LINE Themes have been downloaded more than 200 million times by users around the world to add a personal and colorful touch to their LINE interface.

“The Theme Shop already offers a wide variety of themes centered on the beloved characters of LINE,” said Greg Kim, Senior Manager of LINE Plus Corporation. “In the next months, we will be adding Hello Kitty and Rilakkuma themes, and we promise to deliver more fun-loving motifs as the year progresses.”

Filipino users can also purchase themes from the LINE Web Store (http://store.line.me) and send them as gifts to their LINE friends.

When Sidewalks Fail, Give Us Back Our Roads!

Wazzup Pilipinas!

"A group of Filipinos, including children and students, on Monday asked the Supreme Court to compel the government to implement a road-sharing scheme, saying that practically all the roads in the country are given to just less than 2 percent of the population that owns motor vehicles." - Inquirer.net

The walk lane, or what we call sidewalk, is important for the safety and convenience of the people who opt to walk on the streets. The reason why less and less people are walking is because there are really no suitable sidewalk available on the lengthy roads of the Metro. Either there is no sidewalk at all, or there will always be something blocking or preventing us to go from point to the next - vendors, PUV terminals, "tambays", parked vehicles, dogs (and even chickens) tied to posts, etc.

This is the same problem as the absence of pathways for the disabled on wheelchair. Iimagine how harder it is for them. If we are already experiencing hell, then they must be twice as depressed and in agony.

The very small percentage of the population are the kings of the road. There is not much room for even bikers (not the arrogant motor-bikers who annoyingly sway from left-to-right and wouldn't stick in just one lane, but the ones who prefer to ride bicycles) and live a healthier life.

Wikipedia reports that there are 535 cycle-share schemes in 49 countries, employing more than half a million bikes worldwide. Cycling is no longer just for a minority of fanatics but for a healthy, efficient and sustainable mode of transport that might just be the catalyst for a 21st Century urban renaissance.