Manilla mayor sorting the traffic out, lets get him here :)

At some point very soon Dumaguete will reach a tipping point where people say enough already and you will see a nearby town with better planning and management start to take over Dumaguete overnight. We know all too well what the problems are. With the amount of money in this area there is no good reason the city is not miles ahead of others. I really like it here and I hope those that can change things don't wait until it is too late. I have spoken with people that are looking to expand their businesses that already have many locations but each say they can not find land in town that they can afford. By Unaffordable I mean the cost to buy or lease is higher than what the business can afford and still make a profit. That is why so many places are here today, gone tomorrow.

 

I think you are right Wyre, not much is going to change soon. It is my understanding that except for the rich sugar folks, most of the wealth here are the Chinese. It looks like they have no concern how the boulevard looks or how bad the traffic is because they have done little to improve things. Nothing against the Chinese, my ex-wife was half and money money money was all that mattered, on second thought.....

 

True, and that is why many a "downtown" has died. The smart businesses have seen the light and have moved on to greener pastures. The downtown area of Dumaguete, at least around Lee Plaza, "needs work" to put it mildly. How long before people shun that area because of too much traffic, poor or no parking, and limited places to shop, not to mention the dated look, sidewalks riddled with street vendors and beggars, etc. It's already happening in my opinion. Both sides of the street are shuttered for the most part. Unless Robinson's brings new vitality to the area I think it is just a matter of time before it is doomed and the vast majority of people shop elsewhere. Once that happens the domino effect will have started and won't be able to be stopped, no matter how much money a business has in that area.

 

That is one of the places I want to visit.

Kabankalan, here on Negros is one medium sized city I am impressed with. It has wide, clean streets with good city services. When a business goes in it has to conform as far as sidewalk placement and the overall look. It's called city planning, which most cities here have on clue as to what that is.

 

I agree with you and Wrye also, I think it is already happening. I really don't get Robinsons opening that new store with zero parking. I quit shopping at Lee Plaza due to the parking issue. Last time I went we had a full basket of groceries and we were parked in the dark garage/cave. The security guard said we couldn't take the cart out of the store so me and my wife made a few trips up the steep ramp to get our stuff to the car. No employee offered to help. Last time we shopped there was 2 or 3 years ago.
Controlling the competition was fine when not many had a car or motor 10+ years ago but times have changed. I avoid downtown as much as possible. One thing is for certain, things will change, now or later is up to the powers that be. A vibrant downtown means life for the businesses, poor choice and the status quo will kill downtown quicky. Watch Sibulan, they have a huge opportunity right now to grow.
Most people I know with money want more.

 

I have to agree with Blue Skies. Put 40 jeepneys on say 6 routes in town, with designated routes and designated STOPS,... could easily replace 500 tricycles. Let's start with the two strokes, they are usually the most beat to sh*t, most dangerous, and the biggest polluters. Tricycles could be limited to off-jeepney-route areas and give them a tricycle lane where possible. The designated jeepney stops along their route are also designated tricycle stops for the outlying areas...

To just turn jeepneys loose, which is probably closer to what would happen, would just wreak more havoc.

Of course it will be political suicide for the politicos that tries to do anything about the tricycle problem, which is why it will probably not happen in my lifetime (Let's not mention that politicos own a large number of tricycles).

Larry

 

Maybe its just me, but I actually feel the air in Dumaguete downtown is less poluted, than it was 3-5 years ago. And perhaps the reason is, that most if not all tricycles have already had their engines replaced with 4 stroke units. Its many years and moons ago, that new motorcycles were sold in Dumaguete with 2 stroke engines, and with gasoline at 58 peso pr. liter using 2 stroke engines on tricycles is a highly unprofitable option.

About downtown Dumaguete I agree, that it was for years been a crowded place lacking parking places. But to some extend that is just the nature of a downtown, and its natural, that as more people have private cars, malls and shopping centers will pop up at the outskirt of town, where it is mor easy to make room for parking. Like the LP Hypermart or the Robinson Mall.

Dumaguete is surely growing, so I don`t see any foundation for the pessimism expressed by some. Just look at the Robinson Mall at the south entry to the city. Just 4-5 years ago people in Dumaguete could only dream about such a place.

For me exactly the Robinsons mall do however give some validity to the claim, that its time for Dumaguete to change its transport system. Nowhere else in the Philippines have I seen a mall of this size with a tricycle stand outside. Everywhere else such malls have taxi stands.

As other have commented though, it is going to be difficult to get rid of the tricycles. And people should if nothing else at least understand, why it is like that. Just like taxis tricycles have licences. So the reduce the number of tricycles, the city would need to revoke some licences, that have already been issued.

And its always difficult to take away a priviledge, that has already been granted to someone. That is not a speciel phenomenon for Dumaguete or the Philippines. Its every where in the world.

Moreover this is also about substenence and jobs. If tricycle licences are revoked, the owners will lose their current profits. That is bad enough already. But even worse there will also be 1.000´s of drivers, who need to find a new job in order to support their family. Where are those jobs going to come from in a city, where unemployment is already very high and unskilled jobs difficult to find?

This is the reason, that while a limitation of the number of tricycles might be benefitial for the city as a whole, its a political "hot potato", and most likely it will remain with the talk as it has for decades already.

So if this really bother someone, maybe that person should consider to move to a larger city like eg. Cebu. Dumaguete is never going to be another Cebu anyway, and its known for its relaxed way of life, which the tricycles is kind of part of.

 

@fundiver "So if this really bother someone, maybe that person should consider to move to a larger city like eg. Cebu. Dumaguete is never going to be another Cebu anyway, and its known for its relaxed way of life, which the tricycles is kind of part of."

The last word that comes to my mind when downtown is "relaxed"

Dumaguete will grow it's own way, or not, either way, it should be interesting. I am not bothered enough to move. It has taken me forever to find my way around all the streets here. We moved here for a variety of reasons and they still hold true in spite of my complaints. If I did not care, I would not say anything. I am willing to bet if I had free reign to change the city to suit my needs I probably wouldn't be happy with it when I was done, not to mention how everyone else would react/cope.

Scott