Tag Archives: traffic

Why the Yellow Line?

The yellow median on the street means traffic is two-way.  When it’s white, traffic is one-way.  It’s one of many standards written in land transportation manuals and taught in driving schools. In Philippine roads, however, white or yellow lines divide two-way highways. Motorists just know the lines divide the roads; it’s up to you toContinue reading “Why the Yellow Line?”

My Car Gets a Day Off; How Come I Don’t?

I work every day of the week.  This comes from having several jobs or responsibilities, which is typical not only for myself but also for many Filipino workers, employees, and professionals who eke out what they can for a decent living.  True, there are some lucky people who don’t work as much. Many court judges,Continue reading “My Car Gets a Day Off; How Come I Don’t?”

Enforcement is Not Necessarily a Solution

City traffic in Manila, the Philippines, is downright horrible.  Driving a car in Manila is an adventure in patience and civility.  It’s hard to be a nice person when we compete for road space in this city’s congested streets.  Metropolitan Manila, formally known as the National Capital Region, is the urban centre and capital ofContinue reading “Enforcement is Not Necessarily a Solution”

Value Chains, Supply Chains, & Our Wrong Mindsets

Michael Porter introduced the Value Chain model in his seminal book, Competitive Advantage,1 in 1985.  The value chain broke down activities of the firm (the enterprise) and how they collectively contribute to the value of products & services.  How well activities perform and interrelate would manifest in the margins, which are the difference between valueContinue reading “Value Chains, Supply Chains, & Our Wrong Mindsets”

Sometimes It’s the Smallest of Things that Cause Big Problems

It can take three (3) hours to travel to the hot spring pools of Los Baños, Laguna in the Philippines. Authorities have invested millions of dollars in improving the highway’s infrastructure but motorists still complain about the long travel time.  At one intersection of the highway leading into the town, a lone traffic cop stopsContinue reading “Sometimes It’s the Smallest of Things that Cause Big Problems”