Information : 2012 MMDA Christmas Lanes

Today is the start of the use of the 2012 MMDA Christmas lanes or the alternate routes which the MMDA(Metro Manila Development Authority)  recommends the public to use to avoid traffic congestion along major roads and thoroughfares in the Metro during the Christmas season.

These lanes are not permanently assigned lanes and  change from year to year. Minor roads and unfamiliar streets are utilized as part of the Christmas lanes. In most locations they are to complement other major roads and streets to accommodate traffic. The streets utilized and assigned as Christmas  lanes depend on the traffic volume and other factors (infrastructures, etc) in areas in which they are implemented.

More importantly, these so-called Christmas lanes are planned to help Christmas shoppers, "mallers" and motorists to have faster movement going to (and vice-versa) major shopping center, malls and entertainment venues in the Metro.

Only in the Philippines! Metro Manila the "Christmas City" with its Christmas lanes.

Metro Manila streetmap

Here are the new MMDA Christmas Lanes:


From Greenhills to Rockwell: Take Wilson Street, left at P. Guevarra, Luna Mencias, right at Araullo, left at Balagtas, right at Shaw Blvd., left at Acacia Lane, left at Fabella Road, right at M. Martinez Ave., Maysilo, right at Sgt. Bumatay, take Pantaleon Bridge to Rockwell.

From SM North Edsa to Greenhills: take West Ave., left at Examiner, right at Quezon Ave., take u-turn slot near Magbanua, take Scout Borromeo, right at Tomas Morato Ave., right at E. Rodriguez Sr. Ave., left at Gilmore Ave., Granada, Ortigas Ave. to Greenhills.

From SM San Lazaro to SM Mall of Asia: take A.H. Lacson, Nagtahan, Pres. Quirino Ave., left at M. Adriatico Ave., Vito Cruz, straight to Park Ave., right to Buendia Ave., left to Macapagal Blvd. to Mall of Asia and vice-versa.

From SM North Edsa to Araneta Center: along North Ave., right to Elliptical Road, right at Kalayaan, K-J Street, 15th Street, right at Aurora Blvd. to Araneta Center and vice-versa.

From Dapitan Market to Divisoria: take Dapitan St., right at A.H. Lacson, left at Tayuman, left to Dagupan to Divisoria.

From Baclaran to Divisoria: take Roxas Blvd., Anda Circle, right to A. Soriano Jr., Muralla, left to Magallanes Drive, left at Q. Paredes, Reina Regente to Divisoria Mall and vice-versa.

From SM Sta. Mesa to SM North EDSA: along Araneta Ave., right to Del Monte, left at Roosevelt, right at Baler, left at Miller Ave., right at Calumpit, left at Bansalangin, right at EDSA to SM North EDSA and vice-versa.

From SM Manila to Greenhills: take San Marcelino, left at U.N. Ave., right at Pres. Quirino, right at Figueroa, left at Pedro Gil, New Panaderos, right at Shaw Blvd., left at A. Mabini, right at Wilson to Ortigas Greenhills.

From Trinoma to SM Marikina: along North Ave., QMC, right at Kalayaan Ave., left at V. Luna, right at Anonas, left at Chico, Xavierville Ave., right at Katipunan, u-turn at Aurora Blvd., Marcos Highway to SM Marikina and vice-versa.

From Eastwood to Ortigas Center: take E. Rodriguez Jr. Ave., right to Green Meadows, right at Ortigas Ave., left at Lanuza, right to Doña J. Vargas to Ortigas Center and vice-versa.

From Ortigas Center to Makati Business District: take ADB Ave., San Miguel Ave., left at Shaw Blvd., right at Pioneer, right at Reliance, left at Sheridan, right at Pioneer, pass Boni tunnel to Maysilo, right at San Francisco, left at Coronado, take Mandaluyong Bridge to Makati Business District and vice-versa.

From Harrison to Rockwell: take P. Ocampo, right at Arellano Ave., left at Zobel Roxas, right at Kamagong, left at Chino Roces Ave., right at Kalayaan Ave. to Rockwell.

Source :
http://www.mmda.gov.ph/news.html#dec11b2012

Information : A Seminar on Geohazards

Definition:

geohazard - can be defined as a geological state that represents or has the potential to develop further into a situation leading to damage or uncontrolled risk.

Source : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geohazard

Some of the posts in this blog are about the disasters and calamities caused by geohazards. 

In fact one of the most read post is the Metro Manila Geohazard Maps : http://theprojectreview.blogspot.com/2011/10/metro-manila-geohazard-map.html. This post has maps showing the exact location and extent of major and minor fault lines in the cities of Metro Manila. The readers' interest on this post shows their concern with fault lines and earthquakes, which are two of the geohazards we have in the country.

Unfortunately, our country abounds with geohazards. But we must learn to live with them and to reduce the risk posed by them. Most of these geohazards are natural phenomena, but some are induced  or aggravated by humans (e.g. floods and landslides) due to abuse and negligence in protecting our environment and natural resources. 

For those interested of learning more of about geohazards : earthquakes, fault lines, landslides, floods, volcanic hazards, etc., here is one seminar that you might want to attend. This type of seminar is rarely offered  and this your opportunity to attend and learn from the experts. Please check poster below for details of the seminar :

Please click poster to enlarge

Realted Link:

http://theprojectreview.blogspot.com/2011/10/metro-manila-geohazard-map.html

http://theprojectreview.blogspot.com/2012/02/information-climate-disaster-prone.html

http://theprojectreview.blogspot.com/2011/11/philippine-fault-zone-maps.html

Environment : Adapting to the Changing Climate

The recent "Habagat" that wreaked havoc to a large part of Luzon, particularly Metro Manila and Central Luzon was not a typhoon. It was just the  normal seasonal wind coming from the southwest called southwest monsoon induced by low pressure areas. 

The SW monsoon wind carries heat and water vapor which cause rain along its path. In normal times, these "habagat" rains are beneficial specially to our farmers. But the recent "Habagat" we recently experienced was an extended one, which brought continuous and heavy rainfall causing severe and extensive flooding. 

These abnormal weathers that we have been experiencing these past years is brought about by what scientists call the"climate change". Whether we accept it or not, "climate change" is already a reality that we have to lived with in the coming years or maybe centuries. Climatologists say that the big factor  causing climate change is the increasing  carbon footprint of our planet, which means that there is an increase in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases resulting to global warming (temperature increase of the earth ). 

A carbon footprint is defined as:

The total amount of greenhouse gases produced to directly and indirectly support human activities, usually expressed in equivalent tons of carbon dioxide (CO2).

Definition Source : http://timeforchange.org/what-is-a-carbon-footprint-definition

The increase in earth's temperature  is melting polar ice, increasing ocean and sea levels, and also changing their temperatures. The resulting change in temperature of the oceans and air is what is  causing these erratic weather disturbances we are experiencing. 

Agriculturist are saying too, that the increase in global temperature is also reducing harvests, and changing the seasons of crops and fruits. Eventually, this would severely affect our food supply. 

For laymen like most of us, all these changes and effects of "climate change" and global warming at that, are quite complicated for us to understand completely. But it is necessary for us to understand at least, the basic reason of   global warming and its immediate effects that are already affecting us. 

We just hope that the changes in our climate is not yet permanent and irreversible. And let us do our share in helping reduce the carbon footprint of our planet. In the mean time, we have to learn adapt  our lives to the changing weather and to be prepared to its effects and what it would bring to us.

Southwest Monsoon

Sources :

http://timeforchange.org/what-is-a-carbon-footprint-definition

Announcement : DAVAO CITY - Room Assignments for July 2012 Real Estate Appraiser PRC-Licensure Exam

Here is the complete list of  Davao City examinees with their corresponding room assigments for the July 8, 2012 - Real Estate Appraiser PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) Licensure Exam.

Place of Examination :
SCHOOL / BLDG :  UNIVERSITY OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION
ADDRESS: BONIFACIO ST., DAVAO CITY

Click list to enlarge ( page 1 only )

Click here to see complete list of examinees-room assignments :
http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REA0712ra_Davao.pdf

Announcement : MANILA - Room Assignments for July 2012 Real Estate Appraiser PRC-Licensure Exam

Here is the complete list of  Manila examinees with their corresponding room assigments for the July 8, 2012 - Real Estate Appraiser PRC (Professional Regulation Commission) Licensure Exam.

Place of Examination :
SCHOOL / BLDG : MONZON HALL, MLQ UNIVERSITY
ADDRESS: QUIAPO, MANILA

Cilck list to enlarge ( page 1 only )

Click here to see complete list of examinees- room assignments :

http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REA0712ra_Manila.pdf

Related Links :

http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REA0712ra_Iloilo.pdf

http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REA0712ra_cebu.pdf

PRC

Announcement : Room Assignments for the Real Estate Broker Licensure Examinees on March 18, 2012

Room Assignments for the Real Estate Broker Licensure Examinees (Metro Manila and Iloilo)

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Examinees should report before 6:30 in the morning every examination day.LATE EXAMINEES WILL NOT BE ADMITTED.

2. Bring the following: Notice of Admission (NOA), Official Receipt, pencils no. 1 or 2,  black ball pens, metered-stamped window mailing envelope, long brown and long plastic envelopes. 

3. CELLULAR PHONES AND OTHER ELECTRONIC GADGETS ARE STRICTLY PROHIBITED.

4. Wear the prescribed dress code.

Shown below are the room assignments of examinees :

Click link below for complete list of Room Assignments of Examinees for Metro Manila :

http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REAL_BROKER0312ra.pdf

Click link below for complete list of Room Assignments of Examinees for Iloilo :

http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REB0312ra.pdf


Click link below for complete list of Room Assignments of Examinees for Davao :
http://www.prc.gov.ph/uploaded/documents/REB0312ra_davao.pdf

Source :                            http://www.prc.gov.ph/default.aspx

Information : Real Time Traffic Update from MMDA and TV5

Here is a very useful site with real time traffic update of Metro Manila from the Metro Manila Development Authority and TV5. The traffic situation update is quite detailed location-wise. Take for example EDSA: the traffic is updated from the Mall of Asia to Balintawak and all the intersections in-between them, on both directions ( north and south bound ) every three minutes. This is really a creative endeavor between MMDA and TV5. Two thumbs up for this one!


Please click below for Metro Manila real time traffic update :
http://mmdatraffic.interaksyon.com/line-view-edsa.php

12/4/11

Correction : The actual periodic updating of traffic is every fifteen minutes ( not three minutes as I wrote on my blog entry ). My apologies on my blunder, I stand corrected. Anyway, 15 minutes is still almost real time.

Metro Manila Geohazard Maps

I was thinking of what to post in my first blog entry, something quite interesting . . .but no ideas came to my mind.

So I just went to my review class instead. Something interesting was discussed in our review class : the geohazard maps of Metro Manila. Everybody in the class wanted to see the maps to know if their subdivision or house lies near or on the fault line. I was surprised to see familiar city landmarks right on top of the fault line, specially a flyover bridge where I always passed.

Download the maps below and check if your place is near them. But don't get paranoid if you find out that your house lies near the fault line. A note on one of the map  says as long as your house is five meters away from the actual fault line and doesn't straddle it, your house is safe. You can use these maps as references when buying real estate properties in Metro Manila, so you will know which places are in the danger zones.


Metro Manila Fault Zone Maps :
http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/hazard_maps/active_faults/VFS/metro%20manila%20and%20vicinity.pdf
http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/hazard_maps/active_faults/VFS/alabang.pdf
http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/hazard_maps/active_faults/VFS/diliman.pdf
http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/hazard_maps/active_faults/VFS/marikina.pdf
http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/hazard_maps/active_faults/VFS/montalban.pdf
http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/hazard_maps/active_faults/VFS/muntinlupa.pdf
http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/hazard_maps/active_faults/VFS/pasig.pdf
http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/hazard_maps/active_faults/VFS/san%20mateo.pdf
http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/hazard_maps/active_faults/VFS/san%20pedro.pdf
http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/html/update_SOEPD/hazard_maps/active_faults/VFS/taguig.pdf

Marikina Valley Fault System :
http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/images/IEC/phivolcs_mvfs1997.pdf

See other maps here :

http://www.phivolcs.dost.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=78:hazard-map-of-active-fault-and-trenches&catid=45&Itemid=500024

Related Links :

http://theprojectreview.blogspot.com/2011/11/philippine-fault-zone-maps.html
http://www.rappler.com/move-ph/issues/disaster/41626-metro-manila-hazard-maps-challenge-local-government-action