SOLUTION TO METRO TRAFFIC: AN IMPOSSIBLE DREAM?

LANCER F. PINGOL

“Worst traffic on Earth”, “Traffic can make Metro Manila inhabitable”, “Philippine traffic 9th worst in the World”, to name a few. These were articles written in 2015 and recently. Traffic was and continuously a never-ending issue in the Philippines. Average one-way commuting and traveling time reaches 45.50 minutes before workers reach their destination (based on 2015 data from Numbeo.com).

Other major issues attached to traffic that need to be addressed are commuting dissatisfaction, traffic inefficiencies and carbon dioxide emissions. And not to mention its effect on the larger scale on businesses. The government has proposed various ways to ease traffic in Metro Manila, such as building skyways, opening alternative routes, adding more traffic aides, prohibiting provincial buses from entering the Metro, No weekday sales. But not much improvement seen on traffic and were considered unsuccessful.

Hopefully, new ideas will succeed like the proposed 4-day workweek scheme (House Bill 6152), the modernization of public utility vehicles or phasing out of old jeepneys and the Mega Manila Subway project. The subway project is aimed to be 25 kilometer underground transportation system which approved by the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) for implementation by 2018. The P355.6-billion Metro Manila Subway project “will not only ease traffic but also improve quality of life of the Filipinos” as quoted by Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia.

In my opinion, if I may suggest a possible solution, Clark Special Economic Zone in Pampanga may be a solution to ease traffic in the Metro. Clark can be developed in a way to accommodate all main government offices. It can be a solution to the crowded Manila. Feasibility study must be done that each department of government will run smoothly according to the needs of the people. Additional satellite office in the provinces also needed to prevent those in the provinces to come and enter Manila. By doing this, it will lessen the number of vehicles and commuters in Metro Manila. Someone said, “traffic is a sign of a progressive country.”

Progress has a price, every step requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle. If there is no struggle there is no progress. But we can lessen the burden of the Filipino people if only we will unite as a country and as a society, instill discipline to every citizen. By then, what is impossible will be a dream come true.

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The author is from Pampanga Colleges Macabebe, Pampanga