An average of 3.6 million vehicles are cramped in the streets of Metro Manila every day. Most of these are motorcycles and private cars. No wonder, it takes about 25 minutes and 30 seconds to drive for just 10 kilometers in the metropolis.
Figures from Amsterdam-based traffic data provider TomTom International BV showed that Filipinos in Metro Manila lose about 117 hours in traffic in a year. That’s definitely a lot of precious time that could have been spent with family, friends, relaxation and other productive pursuits.
According to the Japan International Coordinating Agency (JICA), 70 percent of people in Metro Manila take public transportation which only takes up 22 percent of road space.
In the push for sustainable and healthy cities, we need to change the car-centric mindset. More citizens need public transportation, yet traffic congestion is caused by private motor vehicles.
Investing in efficient and affordable public transportation, complemented by cycling and pedestrian infrastructure, will encourage more people to rely less on private motor vehicles.
In the 2023 Urban Mobility Readiness (UMR) Index, Manila placed 60 out of 65 cities included in the study. The top three cities in terms of public transit are Hong Kong, Zurich, and Singapore.
According to the UMR Index, Hong Kong has one of the highest public transit ridership levels globally—71 percent of all distance traveled within the city. Zurich, which ranked second in the index for public transport, has an efficient and affordable multimodal public transport system with stations that are mostly walking distance.
Meanwhile, Singapore’s world-class public transit system is known for its affordable fares, fast commute times, accessible stations, and diverse selection of modes. It aims to further improve accessibility to stations with an expanded rail network that would connect 80 percent of households to within 10 minutes of a station by 2030.
Although Metro Manila is at the bottom of the rankings, the UMR Index has taken note of programs and investments that the government has been undertaking to improve public transportation in the country, particularly in the metro.
One example is the EDSA Carousel, an integrated busway system that serves the commuting public along the major thoroughfare of EDSA. The dedicated bus lane has improved the predictability of travel time for passengers. Moreover, since there are now dedicated stations located on the innermost lanes of the road, passenger safety has been improved as well.
Improvements in our railway system, such as the MRT-3, and major projects like the Metro Manila Subway Project and the North–South Commuter Railway would most definitely benefit the commuting public and improve the overall situation of mass transportation, at least in the metropolis and surrounding areas.
It is important that we invest in a modern and far-reaching public transportation system that will benefit the general public, the very same people who greatly contribute to the economy. Moreover, providing safe, reliable and affordable mass transportation will allow our citizens more time at their disposal, which will also result in improved quality of life.