The Philippines can lose P6 billion everyday due to traffic congestion

Metro Manila traffic

The Philippine economy can lose as much as P6 billion every day by 2030 due to traffic congestion in key cities, specifically in Metro Manila, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency.

According to JICA project manager, Shizuo Iwata, transport losses in the Philippines in 2012 only amounts to P2.4 billion in 2012 but will continue to rise if not given proper attention.

“Metro Manila is losing competitiveness due to transportation congestion,” Iwata said, suggesting that the government develop more efficient public mass transport systems, like railways.

Iwata compared the current situation in the Philippines to more sophisticated countries where railway share in the transport system far exceeds what the country has.

“In Tokyo, about 62 percent is the share of the railway system in public transport ,”he said in his reports.

Iwata said ideally the railway system in the Philippines should ideally cover about 41 percent of the total public transport mix. “Jeepney or bus at 33 percent while cars will be 26 percent,”he said in his report. Continue reading...