Jakarta could learn from Manila: Envoy

By Ida Indawati Khouw

MANILA (JP): Jakarta was once proud of its high-rise buildings, better infrastructure and other modern facilities in comparison with Metro Manila.

But, that once proud feeling is being challenged as the Philippine capital is gearing up to become a "real Metro" Manila.

Metro Manila, which consists of 12 autonomous cities, needs only slightly more development and it will leave Jakarta behind, as the residents of Manila are already one step ahead of those in Jakarta.

Indonesian Ambassador to the Philippines Abu Hartono said in a recent interview that the Philippine government had successfully prepared its people to adapt to a modern society, in which law and order is implemented and respected.

"In the past, people always compared Jakarta to a city and Manila to a village.

"But that comparison is becoming more true in reverse," Abu told visiting journalists in his office in Manila's Makati central business district.

"Jakarta is experiencing a downward trend in public order."

The ambassador's remarks were backed up by an expert on urban development who has described Jakarta as a big kampong because of its residents' uncivilized attitude, even though they live in a metropolitan city.

Abu said there had been significant changes in the Manilaneses' behavior so that they now respect law and order.

"But, at the same time, the Philippine authorities now also listen to the wishes of the people," he said.

He did not deny that Manila, previously called Maynilad or the place where nilad (a type of flower) grows, was no better than Jakarta in terms of air pollution due to vehicles' gas emissions and severe traffic congestion.

"However, the Manilanese respect the existing laws and regulations. They are willing to stand in a long queue just to take a worn-out jeepney (a minibus built on the chassis of a jeep)," he said.

"Don't ever think that in Manila with its 9.4 million inhabitants that you'll find a crowded bus with passengers hanging on to its doors while the driver drives the vehicle recklessly."

"Neither will you find groups of students blocking the path of public buses in order to stop the vehicles and force the crews to pick them up."

No brawls

The ambassador said there were never any student brawls in Manila's streets, something which is a continuing trend in Jakarta.

"The Manila authorities immediately take action against any crimes. The regulations here are implemented so fully that people dare not violate them," he said.

"Unlike Jakartans, Manila residents are not killed by the military while fighting for their rights. All they need to do now is concentrate on their country's physical development, especially on traffic management."

How come the residents of a capital with a population density of 14.8 persons per square kilometer are willing to respect the regulations?

The ambassador said it starts from the government, which conveys its message to its employees. In return, they (the government) always listen to the people's demands.

"The Philippine government's economic policy, especially during former President Corazon C. Aquino's administration, has played a big role in changing the behavior of the Filipinos," Abu said.

During her six-year presidential term, Aquino concentrated on improving human resources and paid less attention on the physical development of her country.

Abu cited an example of how the Philippine government listen to the people's demands.

"Last year, some people won a case against private companies who raised fuel prices without their approval. The Philippine Supreme Court ordered the companies monopolizing the oil business -- Petron, Shell and Caltex -- to pay a fine of 10 billion pesos (US$ 256.4 million)," he said.

He added that the three foreign companies paid the fine through a commitment to reduce fuel prices.

In the capital an integrated land and rail transportation system is now under construction, which is expected to be able to carry 700,000 to one million passengers per day. The project is slated to be completed in 2008.

In the not-so-distant future, Manila will be able to solve its traffic problems while at the same time its people will be ready to appreciate the new transportation system, Abu said.

The ambassador said it was not impossible for Jakarta to learn from Manila in solving its own problems.

"We (Indonesia) have a good system. The only thing we need is the true implementation of its laws and regulations," he said.