Problems in the Local Gov't of Quezon City

1. MITRA, Karyll Ann Gulmatico
POL112- Problems in Philippine Local Gov’t & Administration
Dr. Maria Myriam B. Bacud

2. On the year 2012, the population of Quezon City has already
reached over 3 million. The city has a population growth rate (PGR) of
2.42 percent. If this average annual PGR continues, it is expected that
the city’s population will double in 29 years. QC holds the record of the
highest total income last 2013, but because of its big population, the
city wasn’t even able to place in the top ten cities with the highest per
capita income that determines the total output of a city. This may be a
national problem, but since Quezon City has the biggest population
out of all the Philippine cities, the local government should address
this issue more thoroughly.

3.  Empower women, especially young ones, to plan how many children they
want while providing them with information on how to prevent early
pregnancy.
 Provide more jobs for everyone. Studies show that couples that stay at home
have a higher chance of conceiving a child compared to those that are
working.
 Invest on programs for education. Studies also show that most educated
people choose to have smaller families, making them focus on each child.
Not only it will alleviate overpopulation, it will also help break the cycle of
poverty.
 Let people know the social cost of overpopulation so as to encourage them
to keep their family small.

4. Over the past years, Quezon City had been seriously
devastated by several typhoons that visited the country.
During the early days of August 2012, monsoon rains or
“habagat”, poured non-stop leaving behind P62 million
worth of damages in infrastructures and public properties.
The damage rate also skyrocketed during the visit of Ondoy
and the first typhoon in history to ever cross the Metro,
Milenyo.

5.  Improving the city’s river and draining systems through dredging
and de-clogging of waterways, especially on flood-prone areas to
minimize damage to properties.
 Encourage every household to check their property’s drainage
system.
 Setup flood barriers on flood prone areas like rivers and waterways.
 Create a natural flood defense plan that includes setting up ditches
or notches that will divert flood water into open land or rivers.
 Advocate on tree planting programs that can help reduce flooding.

6. As flooding is one of QC’s major problems, it inevitably
brings to light another major issue that needs to be
addressed: garbage disposal. During heavy downpours,
severe flooding occurs, mostly caused by clogged
waterways and rivers, thus, making it hard for the flood to
subside easily.

7.  Enforce fines on people who are caught littering and establish more
no littering zones around the city.
 Emphasize the importance of 4Rs: reduce, reuse, recycle and recover.
 The local government of Quezon City has already implemented
various ordinances to improve its waste management system. These
ordinances include:
Plastic Bag Reduction Ordinance
Plastic and Styrofoam Ban
Garbage Segregation Program

8. Crime is a serious concern in urban areas of the
Philippines. In Quezon City alone, 993 crime incidents were
recorded for the month of May—highlighted by the shooting
rampage on Commonwealth Avenue that led to seven
deaths—and 113 incidents in just two weeks in the month of
June. In a famous statistic website; www.numbeo.com,
Quezon City’s level of crime reached up to 77.78%, and the
safety level during night time dropped to as low as 25%.

9.  Increasing police visibility through intensified patrols and
checkpoints, especially on crowded places like malls, parks, schools,
etc.
 More intensified police response during crimes.
 Enforce gun-control measures more strictly.
 Constant reminder for every citizen to be vigilant and cautious to
avoid being a victim of any crime.
 Implement a joint effort between private citizens and local police
through a neighborhood crime watch to lower the crime rate
percentage of the city.

10. The large number of informal settlers is a major
concern, not just in Quezon City alone but in the entire
country. The slum areas in Quezon City are often subject to
road widening and infrastructure projects, but it is a difficult
ordeal to convince the dwellers of that areas to leave in
peace.

11.  Right now, Quezon City offers subsidized housing in Rodriguez, Rizal;
payable for P800 on the first three years, and P200 for the years
thereafter—up to 30 years.
 The city also gives out P50, 000 cash incentives for every family that
will be relocated.
 QC also built pro-poor housing communities like the Bistekville 1
and 2.
 To lessen the number of informal settlers, the city can promote more
poverty alleviation programs and regular jobs with a secured tenure
as opposed to contractual or project-based jobs.

12. Every day, it has been a pain in the neck to travel the
major roads of Quezon City, or any other city for that matter,
because of the heavy, eternal-like traffic. Roads like
Commonwealth Avenue, North Avenue, Elliptical Road, QC’s
share of EDSA, and the former traffic free road—Quezon
Avenue. Commuters like me, find it hysterical to be stuck in
the middle of a road for hours. Though heavy traffic is every
city’s issue, as QC is a well-developed city, it should at least
be able to address the issue more intensely.

13.  Enforce measures to slow road traffic like speed limits. Right now,
Commonwealth Avenue implements a 60 KPH speed limit for all kinds of
vehicles.
 Assign more traffic enforcers to stakeout for over speeding drivers.
 Traffic enforcers must be on the side of the road and not on the middle of it to
avoid occupying lanes that are meant for vehicles.
 Introduce more cycle lanes around the city and not just on major roads.
 Increase the number of towing zones to lessen cars that are parking on the
wrong places that are also causing traffic.
 Hold seminars to encourage residents to walk or use public transport to lessen
the number of cars on the road.

14. Different types of pollution torment every city in the
country. Quezon City is home to some of the major roads in
the Metro where public utility vehicles like buses, cabs, etc.
often travel along or to. Metro Manila has also been declared
as the most polluted place in the country and Quezon City is
one of the contributing cities to that saddening statistic.

15.  Implement trainings/seminars about the impact of good driving behavior and
proper engine maintenance that will result to reduced emissions in compliance
to the Clean Air Act, reduction in maintenance cost and increase in fuel
savings.
 Work more on city ordinances promoting clean air and anti-pollution activities.
The local government of QC already implements “QC’s Clean Air Initiatives”
(July 2011) that was launched together with MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino.
 Enforce higher fines on smoke belchers.
 Introduce more cycle lanes around the city to promote cycling.
 Push for eco-friendly alternatives like electric cars or anything that could
lessen harmful emissions.