‘… it can be done — the quality of the road network in Singapore can be replicated here. Maybe all it takes is if we, the people, demand it.’
SEPTEMBER of this year will bring F1 sporting enthusiasts back to the city state of Singapore for the annual event featuring some of the world’s fastest racing cars zooming at such a high clip you’ll miss seeing your favorites go by if you blink. This early, hotel room rates for September are already going up, especially for those properties which offer guests a vantage point of the race.
I am not really an F1 fan although when I was younger, I followed the exploits of the Austrian champ, Nikki Lauda, and so I have no intention of being in Singapore for this event. But a few years back, when Lee Kuan Yew died and was buried, I was there to attend the burial. And I vaguely remember the hoopla around the race as well.
I only mention the race because my friends Jon, Ron, and Mark were discussing the state of Singapore’s roads last week and we all commented on how wide they were and, more importantly, how well-paved they were. No bumps here or there or surprise potholes that appear out of nowhere; no cracks in the pavement or misalignment of any sort. In short, well-made roads, thanks to proper funding and quality work of contractors who do not cut corners to make an extra buck or two.
Now you know why Metro Manila can never host an F1 race. Drivers will die because their cars will flip from potholes and road cracks. Maybe spectators will die, too.
And the rest of us will die from embarrassment. (Or maybe we will just shrug our shoulders and make memes out of the tragedy!)
On the other hand, I was traversing the highway from Borongan southward towards Guiuan in Eastern Samar yesterday and noticed how well-paved the road was. My suki driver Emman reminded me that this was a road built using the Millennium Development Fund of the US of A, which made me go “aha!”
You see, I’ve noticed that when our roads are built under the tight watch of a funder, usually foreign, they’re built really well. This is also true in an expensive subdivision like Ayala Alabang, whose developer (MDC I think) made sure the contractors stuck to the specifications. Enrique Zobel used to tell me he would make unannounced visits to the sites to take samples of the concrete being poured onto the streets. The samples were tested at a lab to validate that they met the specs. I assume that contractors caught using materials out of specs were blacklisted. That’s how Ayala built its reputation.
So, on second thought, it can be done — the quality of the road network in Singapore can be replicated here. Maybe all it takes is if we, the people, demand it.
The question is, do we even care?
