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THE government is proposing five plans “to urgently address Metro Manila’s traffic crisis and decongest the city,” Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Ernesto Pernia said in a press conference at Malacañang Palace on Tuesday, August 23. Reporting on behalf of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Pernia said that plans include the immediate implementation of the Bonifacio Global City (BGC)-Ortigas link bridge; a common station for MRT 3, LRT 1, and MRT 7; the North-South Railway Project (NSRP)-South Line; the Metro Manila Bus Rapid Transit (BRT)-EDSA project; and, the use of the Batangas and Subic ports. According to Pernia, the projects will be done in partnership with the private sector. The agency asked to immediately start the BGC-Ortigas project as it is expected to divert 25 percent of traffic congestion on EDSA. “That is an additional bridge to what we have now on the east side of Metro Manila. There’s a bridge there, the C-5. So we need another one to add road space from those traveling between the two parts of the Pasig, the two parts of Metro Manila that is cut by the Pasig River,” the secretary said. Meanwhile, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is tasked to head the resolution of the common station for MRT 3, LRT 1, and the future MRT 7. In a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation agency in 2012, the Philippines is losing almost P3 billion a day because of the country’s road traffic problem. Aside from Metro Manila, NEDA has also included other traffic solutions in provinces. One of these is the railway system in Mindanao that will be implemented in 2017 once approved by the board. The 10 proposed projects will cost P320 billion, which “has so far approved” by the Investment Coordination Committee. Just recently, the Senate started to hold hearings to discuss President Rodrigo Duterte’s emergency power over the worsening traffic situation in the country, especially in the capital city. Senate President Pro Tempore Franklin Drilon and Senator JV Ejercito have respectively filed Senate Bills No. 11 and 154 to grant the president an authority to go around standard bidding and procurement procedures under Section 10 of Republic Act 9184 or the “Government Procurement Reform Act.” The Transportation Secretary also suggested that a synchronized and uniform system management will help reduce conflicts in controlling traffic rules. The agency also presented some solutions to lessen the congestion which include prohibiting bus terminals along major thoroughfares, rationalizing public-utility-vehicle routes and developing an alternative transport system, such as cable cars, double-decker buses, point-to-point buses and cargo rail transport. |
