DOTr: Government, PPP projects to solve Metro traffic

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Transportation (DOTr) has committed to solve the traffic congestion in Metro Manila through public-private partnerships (PPPs) after the region was ranked as the worst metro in the world in a mobility index.

Responding to the results of the TomTom Traffic Index, the DOTr said it is working on speeding up road projects in Metro Manila to mitigate the traffic mess.

The DOTr said it maintains a pipeline of infrastructure efforts that seek to improve the commuter experience and traffic situation in highly urbanized areas, particularly Metro Manila.

The 2023 edition of the TomTom Traffic Index flagged Metro Manila as the most traffic-congested among 387 metro areas in the world. The index said it takes an average of 25 minutes and 30 seconds to travel 10 kilometers in Metro Manila.

As a result, a motorist loses at least 117 hours in a year navigating the Manila traffic. During rush hour, the index said that motorists can only drive an average of 19 kilometers per hour.

For 2023, the index ranked Lima, Peru as the second worst metro, followed by Bengalaru, India; Sapporo, Japan; and Bogota, Colombia, which Metro Manila replaced in the top spot.

“The top ranking of Metro Manila in world traffic poses a challenge not just for DOTr, but other agencies as well to be creative at finding lasting solutions to metro traffic,” the DOTr said.

“We will fast-track road projects while collaborating with the appropriate agencies with the help of the private sector,” it added.

Under the leadership of Jaime Bautista, the DOTr is pushing to complete road and rail projects in Metro Manila to address the traffic mess.

In 2023, the agency started digging the trenches for the Metro Manila Subway Project.

Apart from this, private developers like San Miguel Corp. are building road projects that should cut the travel time for navigating around the metro. SMC is in the process of bridging the Skyway System to the east of Metro Manila through the Southeast Metro Manila Expressway.

Also, the DOTr is investing P1 billion this year for the delivery of active transport infrastructure like bike lanes and pedestrian pathways to support alternative types of mobility.

The TomTom Traffic Index assesses the traffic conditions in metropolitan areas across the globe, analyzing factors like road infrastructure, speed limits and vehicle flow.