JFC urges passage of law to address traffic congestion

Congress should pass the Traffic and Congestion Crisis law, the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC) of the Philippines urged in their statement issued yesterday.

The Traffic and Congestion Crisis Act of 2016 compels the government to address the transportation and congestion crisis of the country by granting emergency powers to the President.

It seeks to speed up the implementation of transport projects and bar the lower courts from issuing temporary restraining orders for the duration of the emergency powers.

“With the completion of the budget and the first tax reform package, the time to pass this important legislation is now,” the JFC underscored.

Already, the responsible committees in both chambers have completed their reports some months ago and their bills are in line to be discussed and approved in the plenary.

Meanwhile the daily traffic congestion is worsening.

In Metro Manila alone, traffic congestion costs the Philippine economy over R3 billion a day.

Recently, Uber released an assessment that Bangkok, Jakarta, and Manila have the worst traffic in Asia, according to the organization.

The JFC also cited a newly issued study of the Boston Consulting Group, “Unlocking Cities,” which warns that “at current vehicle growth levels, Tier III cities (such as Manila) are at risk of reaching standstill levels of congestion (less than 10 kilometers per hour) during peak hours by 2022.”

“Thus, we urge Congress to complete its legislative procedures and approve the legislation on second and third reading at the earliest possible date, and recommend the President certify the measure as urgent to also speed up its passage,” the JFC stressed.

The JFC is a coalition of the American, Australian-New Zealand, Canadian, European, Japanese, Korean chambers and Philippine Association of Multinational Companies Regional Headquarters, Incorporated (PAMURI).

It represents over 3,000 member companies engaged in over $100 billion worth of trade in goods and services and some $30 billion worth of investment in the Philippines.

The JFC supports and promotes open international trade, increased foreign investment and improved conditions for business to benefit both the Philippines and the countries the JFC members represent.