The Philippine traffic problem consumes hours of every Filipino’s life whether they want it or not. Learn what causes it, what it affects, and how to solve it.
Manila is well-known all over the world for its bustling city life and a plethora of tourist attractions that showcase the rich culture of the Philippines. But aside from the impressive display of hospitality and the wide array of delicious food sold in kiosks and various Filipino restaurants all over the metro, Manila is also infamous for one other thing: traffic congestion. With millions of cars and public utility vehicles traveling to and from the city on a daily basis, motorists and commuters are subjected to Manila traffic daily during the rush hours, with travel time taking up to 2 hours.
With Metro Manila being subjected to hellish traffic conditions, local government units, as well as traffic authorities, have experimented with various solutions to decongesting traffic in Metro Manila. These include number coding schemes and rerouting of public utility vehicles. However, with millions of private vehicles (which is still on the increase) still circulating the congested streets of Manila, these solutions only work as a band-aid solution. In this article, we will discuss what the probable causes of Metro Manila traffic is, its effects on citizens and the economy, and possible solutions that can put an end to the city’s traffic problems.
What Are the Most Common Causes of Traffic in the Philippines?
With traffic congestion being one of the most pertinent problems in Metro Manila and in other major cities in the country, it might still be a mystery for some what really causes the hours-long traffic jams. From overpopulation to unreliable public transportation, there are numerous reasons why Manila traffic is just a worsening problem even with numerous proposed solutions.
LACK OF INFRASTRUCTURE
While Metro Manila is home to impressive skylines and high-rise buildings that can attest to the advancement of the metropolitan area, the same cannot be said about the road infrastructures developed in the cities.
The number of motor vehicles plying Metro Manila’s roads continues to increase, but the road network in the metropolis has hardly increased. According to some estimates, the NCR road network of 4,755 kilometers should be doubled to accommodate the vehicle population. That means that the additional roads that are being built or widened are eaten up.M
MY OPINION
I as a student will be attending Face to Face classes this coming August and if the traffic worsens I may be late for school. But for me it would be practical for me to wake up early so I wouldn’t be late. There is nothing we can do but hopefully reduce traffic in our country, although it will also affect many as well as those who work.
As proof of how bad the situation is, traffic has gotten worse not just in Metro Manila but also in key provincial cities.
For example, weekends at Tagaytay have ceased to be the pleasurable road trips they once were because of the regular migration of Manila traffic. The gridlock at Baguio during the ASEAN week also proved to be a living hell for tourists and residents alike.
The costs of worsening traffic are depressing. A recent study claimed that Filipinos now spend an average of 16 full days stuck in traffic each year. By 2022 some Southeast Asian cities – including Metro Manila – also risk experiencing “standstill” levels of traffic during peak hours (that is, average speeds of less than 10 kph).
Why does traffic keep getting worse, and what can we do to solve it once and for all?
I’m
IWRITER 