As the country mulls the full resumption of face-to-face activities, the Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) is alarmed that the Metro Manila traffic situation has gone from bad to worse.

 

“Did you know that on average, commuters take 2 hours or more to reach their destination in the mornings and in the afternoons. This is equivalent to 42 days wasted on traffic compared to worst city,” PCCI President George T. Barcelon said as he shares the distress of all those plying the Metro Manila roads.

 

According to the 2018 study of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), traffic congestion costs the Philippines P3.5 billion daily in lost opportunities.

 

In addition to the struggle of Filipino commuters, Michael Tan, director of PCCI’s Transportation and Logistics Committee stressed that delivery trucks suffer the same losses due traffic and further exacerbated by inspections, documentations, coding schemes and pass-through fees which add to the cost of goods and services that ultimately passes on to ordinary Filipinos.

 

“The current situation only allows deliveries to happen once every 2 days,” he added.

 

To address the traffic crisis through infrastructure, Arch. Felino Palafox, Jr., PCCI’s director for infrastructure suggested that instead of building more roads, focus should be on building efficient railways systems that are integrated with ports and business districts.

 

Tan added that the government should consider night-time deliveries to malls and retail stores, 24/7 operations in ports and related services such as banks and customs, and to digitalize everything in a way that everybody is marching the same beat.

 

As for long term solution, PCCI President Barcelon recommended to disperse development, implement the “Balik Probinsya” program to reduce urban migration and even encourage people to go back to their provinces.

--- Jeanne Aramae Cruz

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