Infra projects to ease metro’s mobility woes

We will also convene a meeting with the local government units for the Local Transport Plans because, in provinces, it’s not only the DoTr and the LTFRB which can decide on opening new routes

Public transportation and urban mobility in Metro Manila are still lagging compared to our neighboring countries. It was even tagged by a recent study as among the worst cities in the world in these categories.

However, the Department of Transportation banks on its several big-ticket railway projects, although it would take years to complete, to improve the country’s mass transit.

“We welcome the suggestions, comments, and criticisms because this is the only way we can address (this transportation) problems. Although I understand the basis of (the recent study) was the data they gathered from May to July. The rest of that has been addressed by us since we have taken over the operations,” Transportation Secretary Jaime J. Bautista said in a radio interview on Tuesday.

According to the 2022 Urban Mobility Readiness Index released earlier this week, Manila ranked 58th in the ”urban mobility readiness” among the 60 cities studied.

The study by the think tank Oliver Wyman Forum and the University of California also found out that Manila ranked 48th for Sustainable Mobility and 56th for Public Transit.

Likewise, the study pointed out that Manila has poor-quality roads with “limited regional connectivity provided by the national road network.” On top of these, the country’s capital was also described as “congested and polluted” but a “low level of car ownership should help prevent these problems from worsening.”

“For instance, the Metro Manila Subway Project, when it starts to operate, can accommodate half a million passengers daily and that will ease the traffic in the metro because people will be encouraged to stop bringing cars,” Bautista said.

The Transportation chief added that DoTr will also coordinate with its attached agency, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board to open new routes that can be sustainable and profitable for drivers.

“We will also convene a meeting with the local government units for the Local Transport Plans because, in provinces, it’s not only the DoTr and the LTFRB which can decide on opening new routes.”

Funded by the Japanese government, the subway is a 33-kilometer rail line stretching from Valenzuela City to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City. It will reduce travel time between Quezon City and NAIA from one hour and 10 minutes to just 45 minutes.

Apart from this, Bautista noted that the 147.3-kilometer North-South Commuter Railway System, a flagship government project, will also help restore the country’s railway system.

The entire NSCR will have 35 stations, including three depots, and will run on 51 commuter trains and seven express train sets. It is expected to be finished by March 2029.

Once operational, the NSCR System will reduce travel time from Clark International Airport to Calamba, Laguna to two hours. It will serve 800,000 passengers daily.

“There is also a project that will hopefully be completed by September 2024. This is the extension of LRT line 1 from Baclaran up to Sucat, and from Sucat, it will be extended to Bacoor, Cavite. Another one that will be completed by 2025 is the MRT 7 from North Avenue to San Jose del Monte, Bulacan,” the Transportation chief added.

The Marcos administration takes on infrastructure projects, mostly continuity from the previous administration, through renewed public-private partnerships.