Resolving the Chronic Traffic in the Metro

Rodney Artida

Urban centers such as Abu Dhabi, Tokyo and Singapore have developed their cities into a sustainable environment where transportation and live ability is embedded. Meanwhile, Manila must learn to adapt these in order to prevent its decay.
Improving the mobility in the capital might be feasible if we can decongest it. Railways should be built to connect the cities effectively as well as modern infrastructures to ease the traffic congestion. Traffic congestion in Metro Manila is now causing the Philippines to lose ₱3.5 billion a day, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). In JICA’s 2014 report partnering with the National Economic Development Authority (NEDA), the country suffered ₱2.4 billion losses daily due to Metro Manila traffic.
Urban planner Architect Felino ‘Jun’ Palafox Jr. suggested the idea of toll zones in order to decongest the worsening traffic condition ij the city. He also suggested a list of no brainer suggestions alternative to Metro Manila Plan such as; penalizing of car owners, expensive parking during peak hours, the use of bikes and more open spaces.
Decongesting Manila itself is necessary to solve the traffic woes, currently, Metro Manila has a population of 14 million people. Creation of more jobs outside National Capital Region is key factor to solve our problem Improved infrastructure promotes connectivity and will drive away people out of metropolis avoiding the overpopulation of cities and allowing its reorganization.
Decentralizing the government offices would be helpful to prevent urban sprawl. Currently, most of the people are flocking Metro Manila and its surrounding areas because this is where services are located as well as business and job opportunities.
One more problem is that the Metro Manila is composed of 17 local government units, each of these LGUs have their own traffic rules and programs aside from ordinances being implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA). These different traffic regulations cause confusion and further aggravates traffic congestion. Lack of discipline can also be blamed why we are experiencing hellish traffic, we do not know how to respect authorities and tend to disobey them.

Four decades after its creation, Metro Manila is still experiencing it’s so called ‘birth pains’, a long overdue pains that seems to be a temperamental brat which refuses to get mature as he grew older.
We can only dream for our citizens to have a better modes of transportation. A subway system, efficient public transport, ferry all powered by renewable sources of energy. Or maybe a bicycle lane or better sidewalks and PWD friendly pathways. These will all take time and effort to happen but now is the best time to start.