Manila to erect Wi-fi ready waiting sheds

Manila: The local government of Manila has approved a project to establish 12 wi-fi ready modern waiting sheds where commuters can use their mobile phones, surf the web, and check emails while waiting for vehicles, most of which are “jeepneys,” a local and longer version of the United States World War II vintage military vehicle.

Commuters, including students from Manila’s university belt, government and private office workers, and tourist spots will have Internet access while commuting, said a statement from Manila’s City Hall.

The plan is to follow the example of Singapore where every spot has Internet access, said a source who was part of the projects’ planning committee.

Establishing comfortable, modern, and state of the art waiting sheds is a must project in Manila, said the same source who requested for anonymity.

Manila, an old and historical city, which is graced by the Manila Bay, is fashioning itself as a major tourist spot.

However, its waiting sheds are not yet modern; many of them are already dilapidated.

At the same time, Manila has lagged behind Makati City, the financial district, because it has not yet designated separate waiting sheds for loading and unloading, making travel on its major roads quite chaotic.

Being one of the most congested metro areas in the Philippines, observers have started questioning the practicality of offering Internet access to mobile phone users while commuting on Manila’s busy roads.

Manila’s pickpockets have been discouraging mobile owners to openly use their gadgets while on the road, said Ana Guzman, who works in one of the five-star hotels that dot Manila’s Roxas Boulevard, across Manila Bay.

Internet connection is tempting for any mobile phone user, but in Manila, it would be a very dangerous temptation, said Guzman.