Vandalized, substandard road signs a danger to motorists

Vandalism has rendered many street and road signs in Metro Manila almost useless, endangering the thousands of motorists plying the thoroughfares everyday. This was in addition to pilferage, improper placing of the signs, and non-compliance with the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals by local government units, according to representatives from the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and National Center for Transportation Studies of the University of the Philippines.   When GMA reporter Pia Arcangel, together with Engr. Aileen Mappala of UP NCTS and Engr. Neomie Recio of MMDA, visited some parts of Manila to check on the condition of road signs, they noticed road and street signs that can no longer be recognized because they were either covered with stickers or spray-painted over. Some were even damaged, possibly by vehicles.   Recio said there is a team from MMDA that monitors and repairs signs that were vandalized and destroyed, although she admitted the manpower is not enough for the size of Metro Manila.   “Kaya lang sobrang laki ng Metro Manila so limited lang ‘yung mga tao natin,” she said.   She was thankful that there were private citizens who call their attention to signs that need to be repaired. Dated signs The group also noticed signs that needed to be replaced or removed as they were no longer applicable to the present state of road where they were situated. There were also non-reflectorized or unlit road work signs that could be dangerous to motorists at night.   In a separate interview, Director Melvin Navarro of the DPWH Planning Service, which is in-charge of road work signs, admitted their shortcoming in the design of the signages.   “Dapat talaga e-reflectorized ‘yung mga signs nila so siguro baka hindi lang nastriktuhan ‘yung sa project engineer namin. Dapat name-maintain namin ito kasi ito ang makaka-save sa tao,” he said. Pilferage   Stolen street and road signs are another problem, he said.   “Ang medyo problema lang talaga namin [ay] ‘yung mga nawawala [na road signs], ninanakaw talaga,” Navarro said.   On the other hand, to avoid accidents involving concrete barriers, MMDA’s Recio said they replaced their barriers with reflectorized and flexible ones.   “Kahit mabangga, hindi masisira sasakyan mo kasi flexible ito,” she said. “Tapos sa gabi, kitang kita mo ito.” Road accidents   According to the NCTS, some $1.9 billion or P83.2 billion are wasted a year due to road accidents.   Aside from the lack of traffic and warning signs, the other causes of road accidents are vehicle malfunction due to neglect, overspeeding, overloading, traffic violations,  and  bad  condition  of  roads.   Mappala said the country’s road sign manual was based on the Vienna Convention but it is not being followed.   “Merong hindi nagpa-follow, meron din ‘yung lumang sign na ang ginagamit,” she said. Jurisdiction   Having three agencies sharing responsibilities over road signs does not help in standardizing traffic signs, the report said.   The DPWH is responsible for the road signs in national highways, MMDA has jurisdiction over Metro Manila, and Department of Interior and Local Government in cities and municipalities.   With politicians having their own “color,” every city sports street and road signs with different colors and forms.   The Philippines is a state party to the Vienna Convention on Road Signs and Signals, which provides the international standard color, size and shape for each traffic and road signs and markings. - KBK, GMA News