Can the Filipino commuters’ lives get even worse? You’d see many a number of disappointing and inconvenient news about the local public transport going awry. Just a few days ago, the MRT had another occurrence leaving many a number of people stranded and late for work. Several days before that, a PNR train was derailed off its tracks and left a few people injured. Yes, I agree taking the public transportation is not only downright inconvenient, it can also be life-threatening at some point.
Car owners may be spared from these misadventures, but they have their fair share of grievances, too. The inconveniently-scheduled road repairs that results to horrendous traffic and an assortment of other problems, the alarming increase of road-related crimes, and the list goes on and on. Truly, a Filipino’s daily commuting adventure is a feat nothing short of a scene from one of those action-packed films we enjoy watching.
And, if you think it can never get worse, you might just have to think again. And you might also consider asking someone who lives in the south and has to pass SLEX on a daily basis. True, traffic there has greatly improved since the construction of new and improved roads, but about a year ago, they have stopped issuing new EPASS to commuters and have deprived the commuters from the south of all the convience this clever piece of technology can offer.
I cannot blame the people from complaining and appealing that they bring back the EPASS now. Lining up in those toll booths can be rather cumbersome and taxing, especially if you have been hard at work in the office for more than 8 hours and cannot wait to go home and rest, or when you are running late to fetch the kids from school or from their other activities. And what would happen when the next school year opens? Or when the rainy season starts? Traffic situation is guaranteed to worsen when you add these factors to the mix and the least the SLEX Management and TRB Chairman Edmund Reyes could do is to act on this concern now.
I may not be directly affected by this issue, but my heart goes out to all the mums, as well as the others, living in the south who has to endure the burden of going through all the trouble which the issuance of EPASS could have, otherwise, avoided. So, yes I join them in appealing to the Toll Regulatory Board {TRB}, the Department of Transportation and Communications {DOTC}, to Bring back ePass now Edmundo Reyes. You can also let your voice be heard by sharing your thoughts and using the hashtag #bringbackEPASSnow.
52 Comments
If the mrt is trying to have the tap pass, why can’t they bring back the epass which is more convenient for the vehicle owners? Ang Pinas talaga, hindi mo alam if pasulong or paatras?
they also have somethings similar in the works, the RFID System, but it is not sold to the public yet.
I think that’s a great idea and one needs to one why they abolished it in the first place! Thanks for sharing!
We have EZPass here in the US and you know I have one!! I wonder what your government is thinking taking it away–it does not make sense to me. Time for all people living in that country to start a letter writing or petition signing campaign!!
if the situation does not improve in the next weeks or months, it is a probability that residents from the south will begin writing a petition so the government can address this concern immediately.
Here in Florida we have the SunPass and it makes life a bit easier, although we still face tons of bad traffic all the time.
here in the North we also have Easytag that makes paying toll easy-breasy.
Living in cities that require public transportation or passes sounds like it can be trying at times. There are so many factors and it sounds like if you drive a car, they need to bring the passes back! If there is an easier way to get through a toll, they should provide that. You are right that people who are trying to get home after work or home to kids need to get through quickly!
Oh my gosh, I hope the authorities find a solution to those issues right away! I don’t know much about the commuters’ climate in Manila, but I support you.
The epass can really cut the queue time. I hope they bring it back for the benefit of commuters.
We don’t have tolls where I live (just high taxes, lol!) but this sounds like a pain! I agree with you in — they need to fix things and make it easier, quicker and more efficient for people to get to and from work every day. After all, the quicker people can get through, the more tolls they can collect ;-).
That sounds really inconvenient. Work becomes so much more stressful when you have to worry about commuting conditions every day.
I didn’t know that there’s no more EPASS until i read your blog momma. akkk! Sobrang di ako updated uhu!
Bakit kaya nila tinanggal ano.
Oh man how messed up is that!! I hope you can get something worked out that benefits everyone!
i guess everyone is also hoping for the same thing.
I am an EPASS user and I think that it is a tragedy they took it from you all. That is insane.
It sounds like a pain and totally dangerous. I totally feel your pain. I dislike traffic and commute. I am glad I don’t have to take them everyday
so true!
Super hasslet especially for those who live in the south…
it sure is.
Whenever I see/read problems about Manila’s public transpo, it makes me feel thankful that I am staying here in our province. It’s really ironic that we want to improve our economy but the government has less attention to public transportation. Hopefully, the government will read and consider your suggestion. 🙂 Wake up LTFRB and DOTC! 🙂
Toll Regulatory Board (TRB), I mean. 🙂
we have the same sentiments. I only get to travel in the city on occasions and i am really thankful i do not have to do it on a regular basis. It is rather baffling, the government might have overlooked that good roads and effective transportation schemes and programs goes a long way in helping our economy prosper, as it benefits business as well as the working class.
With the way things are going around people are definitely going to start to rebel, and not only about this. This could just be the beginning. People are going to make a list and start to knock a few things out and fix a few things up or put them how they use to be. Come one people didn’t you ever hear of the old saying, “YOU DON’T FIX SOMETHING THAT AIN’T BROKE”! Amen to that one I say!
i guess that old adage nailed it! 🙂
We only have a handful of tolls here in Ireland but even at that they’re an inconvenience. I don’t know why people wouldn’t want travel to be easier for everyone?
i so agree with you. traveling in itself can be very tiring + everyone could all use the convenience we could get while on the road.
This sounds like something we have in SA! Hope it gets solved soon so everyone can be happy.
i really hope so.
I am not familiar with the kind of conditions in your country but I can definitely understand the fustrations and I hope they make the required changes.
i guess everyone hopes the authorities do that, too, and soon!
I commuter about 26 miles each way to and from work, but luckily don’t have to deal with any toll roads. We do have a lot of road construction in the summer and that gets really annoying.
road works can be quite a bummer, too, that is why i thought the authorities ought to carefully schedule these repairs during holidays or during those days when traffic isn’t so terrible.
I totally agree with you because this is such a hassle when we use the SKYWAY that we have to fall in line instead of using the Epass.
i feel you. imagine the time wasted on enduring long queues whereas you can simply breeze through the tool booths with an EPASS
Here in NY, we have EZ Pass, basically the same thing. I can’t imagine them taking it away!
they are the most convenient, right? that’s why i really hope they’d bring back these EPASS soon
Haaaaaaaayyy! Yun nalang daw ang nasabi ko. Sobrang inconvenient talaga ang travelling and commuting sa Pinas. Nakakainis.
that bets sums it up, mum! commuting + travelling in our country is really quite a pain.
I honestly do not know anything about e-pass. Though we travel once in a while but it’s the hubby who takes on the wheel and I don’t remember we ever line up to the e-pass lane. Anyway, I hope they’d end up with the best decision. If e-pass brings comfort to commuters then they should bring it back.
This post was very educating. I have family in Manila and listening to their traffic and commuting stories is hair-raising. What is the reason that they have started limiting the numer of epasses?
from what I read they have just put the EPASS distribution on hold last year and are not selling them to commuters until now.
I hope they find a permanent solution to the traffic problem here. They also keep changing their minds. They’d implement it for a while, remove and then back again. Hope they can do an in depth study and really find out what’s wrong and find a good sulution.
a comprehensive study seems like the most logical way to go about solving and addressing this issue once and for all.
Luckily for me, I don’t have to take the toll on a regular basis, but I do pity all the commuters who have to endure the horrible traffic. I hope the government does something about this.
I’m disappointed with SLEX. Bad roads, very traffic, expensive toll fees. i didn’t know that there is no Epass now. That’s really inconvenient especially for those living in the south and have to pass there on a daily basis. I hope the people in charge will resolve the issue.
i am sure everyone is hoping for the same.
I wonder if the day will ever come that we’ll have an efficient commuting system. When the MRT arrived I though wow progress but years later we’re down to 8 trains and unending problems…
We might have a long way to go before we can experience an efficient commuting system, but what’s important is we are on our way there, albeit very slowly. So let us not lose hope! 🙂
I do hope they bring back the epass for the sake of the vehicle owners..
I hope so, too.
Why would they kill such a convenient tollway service like ePass? Panu na yung mga pumapasok sa opisina everyday na galing sa south? (I’m from Marikina but I’m concerned about the hardworking mommies from the south)