Yearly Archives: 2014

Business, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Travel

SOLVING MANILA’S TRAFFIC MESS THROUGH COLOR CODING

Leave a comment

imageManila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – Celebrated fiction author Dan Brown, in his latest novel, The Inferno,  described Manila as the ‘Gates of Hell,’ mostly because of the nightmarish traffic that’s an everyday occurence in this Philippine metropolis.

The Unified Vehicular Volume Reduction Program (UVVRP), commonly called number coding is a road space rationing program in the Philippines that aims to reduce traffic congestion, in particular during peak hours, by restricting the types of vehicles that can use major public roads based on the final digit of the vehicle’s license plate.

Everyone knows the number coding is grossly ineffective. So, in a radical move to try to finally end Manila’s daily traffic gridlock, the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) today announced a new traffic control system not based on numbers but rather on colors – the colors of the rainbow.

Here is how it works:

  • Vehicles colored RED will be banned from Manila streets on Mondays
  • Vehicles colored ORANGE will be banned on Tuesdays
  • Vehicles colored YELLOW will be banned on Wednesdays
  • Vehicles colored GREEN will be banned on Thursdays
  • Vehicles colored BLUE will be banned on Fridays
  • Vehicles colored INDIGO will be banned on Saturdays
  • Vehicles colored VIOLET will be banned on Sundays
  • The ban is not imposed on national holidays

‘What if a vehicle has ALL the colors of the rainbow, ‘ The Adobo Chronicles asked the MMDA. Its response:  rainbow-colored vehicles will be exempt from the ban. image

Immediately after the announcement, Kia Philippines, the local franchise of the South Korean car manufacturer, said that beginning with its 2015 models, rainbow-colored cars will be available to its customers for a small surcharge.

 

 

 

 

 

Economy, Health & Medicine, Human Interest, International, Law Enforcement, Politics

PRESIDENT AQUINO INCREASES FUNERAL BENEFITS FOR FILIPINOS

Leave a comment
A typical Filipino wake, with lots of food, singing, drinking and gambling.
A typical Filipino wake, with lots of food, singing, drinking and gambling.

Manila, Philippines (The Adobo Chronicles) – He would not increase the minimum wage, but Philippine President NoyNoy Aquino is raising funeral benefits for both public and private sector workers.

Aquino issued Executive Order 167, which he signed last May 26, directing the Employees’ Compensation Commission (ECC) to implement the new law since the current rates “for both private and public sectors are no longer sufficient to cover funeral costs.”

Aquino increased the funeral benefits for both sectors from P10,000 to P20,000 effective immediately.

“We can’t afford to increase wages because most of the money in the public treasury has been spent on ghost projects and shady deals by senators, congressmen, private businessmen and members of my administration,” Aquino said,  referring to the 10 Billion pork barrel scam that has all but paralyzed the government.

“We owe it to the Filipino people to at least provide them with decent last rites and resting place, especially since many of our countrymen are dying of hunger and unaffordable or no healthcare because of low wages,” Aquino told The Adobo Chronicles.

The Aquino administration hopes that through this executive order, the funeral parlor business will flourish, creating more jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers, and eventually helping grow the economy.

Got P20,000? Will  rest in peace. With dignity.

 

 

Human Interest, International, Politics, Science and Environment

ALL-MALE NAMES FOR HURRICANES AND TROPICAL STORMS PROPOSED

Leave a comment
Hurricane image from space (Photo: NASA)
Hurricane image from space (Photo: NASA)

Miami, Florida (The Adobo Chronicles) – A recent survey showed that Americans are more fearful of hurricanes and tropical storms named after males. As a result, they prepare less for, and ignore warnings about weather disturbances named after females.  The result? Greater destruction and more fatalities and injuries.

To remedy the situation, the National Hurricane Center in Miami sent a formal proposal to the World Meteorological Organization  (WMO) to name all hurricanes and tropical storms after males. The Geneva-based WMO maintains and manages the official list of names of hurricanes and storms which it rotates and recycles every six years.

Upon learning of the Miami proposal, the National Organization for Women (NOW), the powerful national lobby group advocating for women’s rights, issued a strong statement crying ‘discrimination.’ The statement said, “In these times where the equality movement is gaining momentum, the proposal takes us 10 steps backward.”

The Adobo Chronicles learned that NOW is planning a million women’s march next week that will begin in Washington, D.C. and end in front of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. Barring inclement weather, of course.