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Palace backs carpooling, working from home to ease traffic
Natashya Gutierrez / Published 4:50 PM, February 18, 2014
Malacañang welcomes voluntary measures by motorists, but gives assurances the government has prepared
traffic management plans
MANILA, Philippines – As commuters and motorists braced for heavy traffic now that 15 simultaneous
roadworks in Metro Manila have started, Malacañang Palace suggested ways citizens could help ease the
traffic.
"Voluntary remedial measures such as community carpooling and company initiated flexi-time and home
office arrangements for affected employees can contribute in easing traffic congestion," said Communications
Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr.
"We renew our call that we share in the burden of sacrifice, and bear with the short-term inconvenience, so
we can reap the benefits of faster travel and higher productivity," he said.
The Palace also gave assurances it has prepared traffic management plans.
"To address the citizens’ concerns arising from the start of construction of the Skyway 3 project, the NAIA
Expressway project, and other projects in Metro Manila, the MMDA and the DPWH have prepared traffic
management plans including rerouting and road widening," Coloma said.
On Monday, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) released alternative routes for private
vehicles affected by the Skyway construction. These include EDSA, Taft Avenue, Arnaiz Avenue, Gil Puyat
Avenue, Ayala Avenue, Vito Cruz, and Roxas Boulevard, among others.
'Adequately prepared'?
On Tuesday, the same day heavy traffic caused by the beginning of Skyway Stage 3 construction was expected
to begin, Coloma said the government has adequately prepared for the simultaneous construction.
"These plans have been on the drawing board for quite some time. And while these were being planned,
DPWH (Department of Public Works and Highways) and the MMDA had advance information," he said.
"They've informed the affected local governments, and were able to present possible rerouting plans and
plans for road widening. Since 2010, these infrastructure projects were already being discussed."
But when asked why it is only now that the possibility of a 4-day school week and the revival of the Pasig ferry
service is being discussed, Coloma said the planning is a "continuing process."
"The process of consultation is continuous. There is no interruption in the projects because of lags in
consultations. We continue to coordinate with affected communities," he said.
Coloma also said there is still a need to review the proposals.

"Those proposals were simply offered as options and suggestions, and were not intended to be presented as
imperatives, precisely because there is a need for all the affected stakeholders to vet the idea, to review the
possible ramifications and consequences," he said.
The proposals may be adapted, but not immediately, Coloma said.
"To begin with, classes are nearing its end, right? The regular school calendar will be ending in about a month.
So, there's time through the summer vacation to plan until the reopening of classes," he said.
"Other organizations on their own are initiating voluntary measures, so it's a combination of voluntary and
mandatory measures. But we would rather focus for now on the voluntary measures," Coloma said.
Despite the most recent criticism, Coloma said he feels as if the Filipino people understand and support the
government's infrastructure initiatives.
"We can see that our people welcome this, that they too want additional infrastructure, that structures they
see in other countries, they also want to see here at home," he said. "I think we should also recognize that
many of our people are willing to do the necessary sacrifice that is needed and they are willing to bear with
the inconvenience." – Rappler.com
Fix traffic or PH can lose P6B daily by 2030 – JICA
Katerina Francisco / Published 8:09 PM, February 28, 2014
The Japanese aid agency presents a plan where an efficient railway system makes up a large part of the public
transport mix to ease traffic in Mega Manila
MANILA, Philippines – Despite the Philippines’ better-than-expected economic growth, the country stands to
lose up to P6 billion a day by 2030 because of worsening traffic jams.
A report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) showed the costs of traffic would continue to
rise if adequate solutions to ease congestion are not implemented.
JICA earlier said traffic congestion cost the Philippines P2.4 billion every day in 2012.
The Japanese aid agency also presented the components and expected impact of its "dream plan" roadmap
for improving the transportation system in the Philippines. The plan, which outlines short-term and long-term
developments, is estimated to cost the government P2.3 trillion.
Cost of traffic
Studies on the cost of traffic are based on several factors, among them
 value of time lost due to delay

 fuel costs
 vehicle operating costs
 impact on health
 greenhouse gas emissions
University of the Philippines (UP) professor Jose Regin Regidor said the wasted productivity hours amount to a
monetary value that could be used for other things, such as earning extra income or spending more time with
the family.
“Instead of being at the office to start work, you’re stuck in traffic. Instead of being at home to take care of the
children, a parent spends his time stuck on the roads,” Regidor said. “It’s hard to put a monetary value on
that, but we’re trying to do that so people will see that this is the amount we’re losing every day.”
More cars on the road also mean a rise in greenhouse gas emissions, which in turn could lead to health costs.
The JICA report said greenhouse gas emissions are expected to increase to 5.72 million tons a year in 2030,
compared to 4.7 million tons a year in 2012.
Improving mass transit
With demand for mass transit in Mega Manila likely to reach 7.4 million passengers a day by 2030, JICA said
there is a need for reliable mass transport services that can adequately serve them.
Public transport accounts for 69% of the total number of trips taken in Metro Manila every day. Currently,
buses and jeepneys have the lion’s share in the mode of public transportation, accounting for 71% of trips.
In its proposed roadmap for 2030, the Japanese agency stressed the need for an integrated urban mass-transit
network, with an efficient railway system making up a large part of the public transport mix.
JICA said railways should ideally take up a 41% share of the overall transport system, with jeeps and buses at
33% and cars at 26%.
Regidor added improving mass transit systems are “low-hanging fruits” that will be cost-effective and able to
serve millions of commuters.
‘Dream plan’
The P2.3-trillion infrastructure road map to decongest Metro Manila involves building new infrastructure and
improving traffic management.
This includes building new roads and expressways, improving accessibility to rail systems, modernizing of bus
and jeepney fleets, and improving traffic enforcement and education.
If the plan is properly implemented, JICA said the Philippines stands to cut its traffic losses, earn revenues, and
reduce pollution from greenhouse gas emissions.
The Philippines can save as much as P1.2 trillion in 2030: P1.9 billion a day or P570 billion a year from time
cost savings and P2.1 billion a day or P630 billion a year from vehicle operating cost savings.
In addition to these savings, the government can also collect up to P119 billion a year in toll and fare revenue.
Meanwhile, commuters can expect to save P18 a day and cut their travel time by 49 minutes per trip. –
Rappler.com
Economic effects of traffic in Metro Manila
By George S. Chua March 12, 2015
LAST week I read a front-page article in this newspaper that Pinoys waste 28,000 hours in “traffic.” That
translates to more than three whole years of your life wasted! If you consider that the average productive life
of an individual is 30 years, this means more than 10 percent of your working years is lost in traffic. Not a
pleasant thought at all.
Unfortunately, that is only the tip of the iceberg. There are a multitude of other costs and problems that is
brought about by the horrendous daily traffic situation. We have additional pollution, more fuel expenditure,
delays in the movement of goods, decreased turnover and the perpetuation of poverty.
Of course, the longer you are on the road, the more emission your public transport or private vehicle
emits. Additionally, the efficiency of engines tend to be less when it is on idle or at slow speed since
incomplete combustion is more likely. Naturally, the more pollutants the population is exposed to, the more
effects it has on the general public health, leading to more medical bills and a shorter life span.
Obviously, once you have this perennial traffic situation, your fuel bill also goes up since you will be traveling
at less efficient speeds or going nowhere while your engine is consuming fuel. Of course, a higher fuel bill
means less profit for the public transport operators or cooperatives, and less disposable income for the
private vehicle owners. Not only that, the additional wear and tear on vehicles that are on standstill or
moving at a snail’s pace is also much higher. In a hot country like ours, the additional burden of lack of air flow
increases the engine temperature to dangerously high levels, such that seeing cars stalled in heavy traffic
situations is not uncommon.
The saying that time is money is certainly the case for businesses. Delivering finished goods or receiving raw
materials or inventory is time sensitive. Delays affect production, delivery and work schedules, take its toll on
the bottom line of the company. It could also have an adverse impact on market demand, where alternative
suppliers from other countries are more readily able to provide products at more reliable delivery
schedules. Our traffic situation has forced the implementation of color-coding schemes, truck bans and even
contributed to our ongoing port-congestion problem, all of which has an adverse financial impact on
businesses.
Public transport, delivery trucks and shuttle services are also victim to the perpetual traffic in Metro
Manila. Instead of being able to do three or four round trips, they are lucky to be able to do two, which
translates to lost revenues and, in many cases, a shift from profitable operations to a losing business. Public
service also suffers in that the available schedules become less frequent and the waiting time becomes longer.
Without a doubt, the public, transport companies and businesses are all losing time and money, even the
government is losing taxes because of the lost revenues from the traffic situation. Why is this happening when
the solution is staring us in the face? Because government officials allow it to happen. As an example, you
can see the horde of pedicabs plying the areas of La Salle and Saint Scholastica’s in Manila, blocking traffic and
making counter flow. You can see the sidewalk vendors at the corner of Edsa and Don Chino Roces blocking
one of the two lanes right in plain sight of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority enforcers. You can
see jeepneys everywhere stopping in the middle of the road to pick up passengers and the buses along Edsa
swerving out of the bus lanes, blocking another two lanes.
Why do traffic enforcers and their supervisors allow such things to happen? The answer is a combination of
gross negligence, incompetence and corruption. All of which end up perpetuating poverty and costing all of us
three years of our lives. Please, remember this during election time and let us vote for people who can truly
fix our traffic problem. We all deserve better.
How to solve traffic? Fix bus system, pay drivers fixed
wages
Rappler.com / Published 1:00 PM, July 03, 2015
Experts say reducing the number of buses that ply EDSA would significantly reduce travel time and costs of
traffic for commuters
FIX BUS SYSTEM. JICA says it's possible to reduce the number of buses in EDSA by 50% without affecting
services to commuters. File photo
MANILA, Philippines – Reorganizing the bus system along EDSA and assuring better wages for drivers is key to
easing the massive traffic jams that plague Metro Manila motorists, experts said.
Research by the Philippine Institute of Development Studies (PIDS) showed that an effective policy to reduce
the number of buses plying the 24-km road would significantly reduce the travel time and cost of traffic for
commuters, according to Prof. Roehlano Briones.
Transport agencies and members of the academe convened in an event organized by the PIDS, Action for
Economic Reforms, and Consumer Unity and Trust Society International to discuss competition reforms in the
bus transport sector.
An earlier report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) showed that the Philippines lost P2.4
billion every day in 2012 due to traffic jams, with the amount likely to rise if solutions are not implemented.
A 2014 JICA study also said that it was possible to reduce the number of buses in EDSA by 50% without
adversely affecting service to bus passengers.
Aside from the high density of vehicles snarling traffic along the major thoroughfare, accidents – many of
them involving buses – also aggravate road congestion.
To solve this, experts recommend giving bus drivers and conductors fixed wages instead of relying on the
current “boundary system.” In this system, the driver’s take-home pay is the total amount earned from fares
minus a fixed amount that he gives to the bus company.
The boundary system forces bus drivers to compete with each other to pick up more passengers, often at the
expense of the passengers’ safety and regard to traffic rules.
In 2012, the labor department released Department Order 118-12, which gives bus drivers both a fixed wage
and a commission component.
The order outlines the two tiers of the salary: a fixed wage that should not be lower than the applicable
minimum wage set by the government, and a commission that varies according to the employer's net
revenues. – Rappler.com
How Heavy Traffic Affects the Real Estate Industry
By Rob John Valencia -September 9, 2015
A heavy downpour usually causes floods in several roads in Metro Manila, where thousands of
commuters and motorists get stranded. According to Highway Patrol Group (HPG), there is no perfect plan on
EDSA traffic; however, discipline, compliance to rules, and cooperation were asked from the citizens to
alleviate the problem. Heavy traffic results to problems. It affects the different industries in the Philippines.
In the medical field, lives may be put to danger while students and professors in the education industry
lose important time which they could devote to studying and completing academic requirements. From the
loss of profit for businesses to disturbed personal lives, this nuisance causes anxiety and makes people upset.
Metro Manila is significantly populated. Its streets are filled with both public and private vehicles that
contribute to congestion.
The effects caused by clogged streets and highways are obvious nowadays – people arrive at their
homes late, there is a major increase in transportation costs, and loss of precious time. These consequences
should open the eyes of the government to take drastic actions to solve the problem that causes our country
to crumble. Just like the other fields in the country, the real estate industry suffers from heavy traffic and poor
transportation system in many ways. From buyers to sellers and developers to marketers, everyone is
affected.
Property Valuation The value of a property depreciates when it is located in flood-prone and traffic-
congested areas. Good thing accessibility also greatly increases its value. The chances of it being sold also
increase. If it can be easily accessed, its worth goes up no matter what. Property Buyers look for properties
that offer nothing less than convenient. They look for homes located near their workplaces, transportation
hubs, and commercial establishments where they could buy basic necessities. Conversely, developers could
face a shortage in property buyers if their projects are located in places where people deem unpleasant.
Broker Transactions Transportation plays a vital role in the lives of brokers. Their productivity decreases when
they experience the hassle of commuting. The time that they could have just invested to their clients is wasted
because of heavy traffic.
Instead of closing deals, they sit inside the car producing nothing. Yes, Metro Manila houses many real
estate developments. And though it may seem unnecessary to purchase a home near traffic-congested areas,
just imagine being free from the hassle of commuting elbow to elbow with other people.
You can even avoid the expensive gas or commute fare. When you invest in a house that is accessible,
you will be released from the trouble of traveling and you can save valuable time. The convenience of having
your own place in the middle of the jungle-like metro is unrivaled. Leave no room for difficulty. Always
remember to be practical. Take advantage of the benefits the real estate industry offers. You can even find
office spaces that are nearby transportation hubs to maximize ease or invest in pre-selling properties near
commercial business districts to secure your future. The heavy traffic trend and the series of flooding in Metro
Manila only provide a platform for the real estate industry to showcase their projects that offer long-term
benefits.
Dealing with traffic: Working people speak out
Richard Mamuyac / Philippine Daily Inquirer / 12:20 AM August 28, 2016
Benjamin Franklin once told, “In this world, nothing can be said to be certain except death and taxes.”
In the Philippines, you can add to the list traffic congestion in Metro Manila as another sure thing we experience
every day.MMDA reported 326,504 vehicles pass through EDSA everyday. 12,000 to 15,000 of them are buses. In
2015, LTO-NCR recorded a monthly average new registration of 14,783 multi-wheeled vehicles (cars, SUVs, buses
and trucks) and 14,940 two-wheeled units.
According to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), traffic congestion cost the Philippines P2.4
billion every day in 2012. If remain unsolved, our country can lose P6B daily by 2030. The National Center for
Transportation Studies (UP Diliman) explained that the cost of traffic are based on several factors, among them
are: value of time lost due to delay; fuel costs; vehicle operating costs; Impact on health; and Greenhouse gas
emissions.
An average Metro Manila resident, mostly working people travelling to and from their office, spends 1,000 hours
a year in traffic and wastes as much as 28,000 hours of his economic life. Wasted productivity hours amount to a
monetary value that could be used for other things such as earning extra income or spending more time with the
family.
Joey Tibayan-Bayan, a radio reporter laments that going to and from work is such a chore. She said, “You get all
dressed up looking fresh and clean, when you get on the PUVs, you disembark sweaty tired and dejected. The
day has not even started yet!”
John Cueto, VP for Network and Technology, describes the Metro traffic as “tragic” because it wastes time and
effort that results to low productivity. “Mompreneur” Margaux Hemady Rañosa confessed that her mother and
sister were forced to rent a place in Ortigas because of the exhaustion they get from traffic and waiting for
transportation to go to work. Ron Barbaza, a blogger, would sometimes allot 4 hours of travel time to go to
event venues just to make sure he will not miss his gigs. BPO Manager Shawn Andrei Summers sums up his
frustrations in five words, “Heavy traffic jam stresses me.”
Gretchen Filart Dublin shared that traffic is one of those reasons why she shifted to full-time freelancing because
it takes her 4 hours to travel from Bulacan to her previous office in Manila. April Salonga, a Management
consultant declares traffic as “unbelievable” and getting worse because she now gets late even on weekends.
Rizza Garingo, who leads a field market survey team, would sometimes utter the word “hellish” when stuck in
traffic that only makes him doubly tired at the end of the day. Cheryl True, a researcher, seems to have given up
in finding answers to the traffic problem and uttered, “Traffic is here to stay. It’s hopeless!”
The government has taken some initiatives in response to the worsening traffic situation and its effect especially
to workers like implementing of a four-day work week scheme in some government offices and the DOLE
Advisory No. 4, Series of 2010 that includes flexible work arrangements.
The People Management Association of the Philippines (PMAP), the premier organization of HR practitioners and
people managers in the country with a membership of more than 1,800 corporate and individual members,
conducted a survey in one of their recent monthly meeting attended by more than 200 members. The results
showed that 81% of the respondents are in favor of a 4-day work week scheme. The companies also shared that
they provide benefits to their employees to lessen the effect of traffic like flexible work schedule, free shuttle,
work from home option and gas allowance.
PDI talked to working people from all walks of life and asked them for suggestions on how to lessen the traffic
problems that we are currently facing. The following are their responses:
Ruth Dela Cruz, IT Consultant. Local companies should start implementing work from home option especially for
positions which don’t require physical reporting in the office.
Kellypad Biasong, Nurse. Improve our train system and implement a “No parking, No car” policy.
Cristal Maramag, Digital Officer. There should be more means of public transportation and the government
needs to fix our roads especially in flood-prone areas which worsen the traffic.
ADVERTISEMENT
Grace Bondad Nicolas, COO of a media and PR firm. Carpooling is another solution we can consider aside from
improving of our railway systems.
Raffy Pedrajita, Tech blogger. Every barangay should create a mass parking system for people who don’t have a
garage. Limit car ownership per family or company and fire the current MMDA chair.
Enzo Luna, Blogger/ Photographer. If only we have a train system that works on time like in Japan then wasted
time going to work or school will be eliminated. Adapting an effective system will help ease our public
commuting.
John Michael Bueno, Computer Engineer. Use waterways and additional layer of roads as options for more
efficient public transportations. People should see train ads in Singapore, it’s fun and educational.
Joveth Ong, Entrepreneur. Traffic management should start with LTO, LTFRB and MMDA. What are those
colorum vehicles doing on the streets? For me that’s the basic and that’s the easiest way to manage the traffic.
Abdel Sabdani, Corporate Communication and Marketing Manager. Companies should be mandated to have
vehicles that can pick-up and drop-off employees on designated points.
Jocelyn Alaraña Magbitang, Travel Agency Owner. Open the gates of private villages even for a limited only.
David Ricardo Valencia Ferro, Network Administrator. Old buses should be phased out.
Yenan Glorioso, Project Development Officer. Centralized transport systemis one solution. Increase the
registration of vehicles 500 folds to discouraged car ownership.
Saj Kamid, Research and Extension Specialist. Bus rapid transit should be considered as another mass transport
mode. Re-educating the pedestrians on proper crossing, when to cross, how to use pedestrian facilities should
also be considered.
Agustin John Cabredo, Government employee. I moved near my office and I ride my bicycle to go to work every
day. It’s environment-friendly, cheap and good for the health.
Mark Joshua Pineda, Social Media Officer. Mass transport system, proper jeepney stops.
Peter Sumile, Publisher. Install walkways and flyovers in intersections, major roads and national roads.
Adrian Marco, Programming and Production Manager. President Duterte should reprimand all
“underperforming” local government officials: mayors, vice mayors and governors. Manila and Pasay are good
case studies.
Jayson R. Biadog, Technical Support. Flexible work schedule for employees.

Gino Romano Santos Decipeda, Process Specialist. Phase out all vehicles 10 years old and above.
JheyEm, Call Center agent. Expanded number coding scheme which will prohibit vehicles from the streets at
least two days a week.
Leo Brisenio, Photographer. We need an effective and efficient transport system which should be run by the
government.
David D’Angelo, Event Organizer. Enact a congestion fee system where private vehicle will be charged per hour
for using major roads which are deemed congested. Improve traffic lights and electronic system and remove
incompetent traffic enforcers.
Whether we like it or not, the current traffic situation in Metro Manila will be something that we will be seeing
for the years to come unless a miracle of a solution will pop out soon. While we are waiting for the antidote that
will bring a lasting improvement to our roads, maybe we can still smile a little in the midst of a traffic jam and
spread good vibes to our fellow motorist instead of pouting or worse, be involved in a road rage.
Or maybe we can consider the clever traffic-buster from working mom Mary Jane Dionela, who recently
migrated from Pasig City to Davao City, who suggested, “Zipline please!”
Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/214172/dealing-with-traffic-working-people-speak-

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Duterte does not need emergency powers to address
traffic – lawmaker
Mara Cepeda / Published 6:10 PM, September 15, 2016
Kabayan Representative Harry Roque says President Rodrigo Duterte might be requesting for emergency
powers just to get 'blanket authority' over the traffic problem
MANILA, Philippines – Kabayan Representative Harry Roque on Thursday, September 15, questioned the need
to give President Rodrigo Duterte emergency powers to address the perennial urban traffic problem.
Roque said during the House transportation committee's hearing that the term "emergency" is commonly
defined as "sudden, unforeseen, and dangerous." He pointed out that the traffic congestion in Metro Manila
has been a long-standing problem.
"But given the common meaning of an emergency, that which is sudden and unforeseen, are we saying that
the traffic problem is a sudden problem? It is unforeseen? I cannot imagine that the traffic problem is
something unforeseen," said Roque.
Department of Transportation Undersecretary Raoul Creencia then argued that the traffic problem affects not
only Metro Manila.
"Given the effect of the congestion, not only in Metro Manila, not only in land but also air congestion, and
given the computation of economic losses that we incur every day, it is our position, Congressman Harry, that
these can be considered as, and as most versions of the bill we have seen, this can be considered as a national
emergency," said Creencia.
"Your honor, the suddenness of the occurrence is not actually a characteristic that we have considered but
what we have considered is the necessary measure and framework that we need to adopt in order to quickly
and expeditiously address the problem," added Creencia, tagging the traffic problem as a "crisis."
According to Roque, the Duterte administration might only be asking Congress for emergency powers to get
"blanket authority" over the traffic problem.
"In effect, what you're saying is we want to do our job, unhampered by the law, which is not a specific grant of
emergency power but a blanket authority to completely disregard laws when you want to disregard laws,"
said Roque.
He said among the reasons behind the request for emergency powers may include exemption of priority
infrastructure projects from the Government Procurement Reform Act, which already includes provisions for
emergency purchases.
Creencia responded that giving Duterte emergency powers over traffic would help address the issues that
existing laws have failed to do.
"I agree that most of these are already in the law. But we have seen and we know that all of these are in the
law 6 years ago, and look at where we are now," he said.
"That's why we need a creative solution, but we need to address the constitutional issues raised by
Congressman Harry. These laws were there 6 years ago but look at where we are now," he added.
Duterte had urged Congress to grant him emergency powers to address the worsening traffic.
If this is granted, the government may open up private subdivisions to motorists to ease traffic in Metro
Manila as well as move some government offices and factories to nearby provinces. – Rappler.com
Tugade clarifies: Traffic problem a 'state of chaos, not a
state of mind'
Mara Cepeda / Published 4:25 PM, September 15, 2016
Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade also suggests moving some government offices and factories outside
Metro Manila to decongest traffic
MANILA, Philippines – Department of Transportation (DOTr) Secretary Arthur Tugade reiterated the gravity of
traffic congestion in the country as he attended the first House hearing on granting emergency powers to
President Rodrigo Duterte to address the problem.
“Ang transportation at traffic issue ho ay totoo at hindi lang state of the mind. Kung state of the mind lang po
ito, kung estado ang pag-uusapan, tama ho ‘yun, chairman (The transportation and traffic issue is true and not
just a state of mind. If we're talking about its state, it's also right, chairman). It is a state of chaos which has to
be addressed," Tugade told the House transportation committee on Thursday, September 15.
The transportation secretary made the clarification after he was misquoted by a newspaper report as saying
that the traffic problem should only be attributed to commuters' state of mind. (READ: Art Tugade and his
inherited headaches)
During the House hearing on Thursday, Tugade cited a 2014 Japan International Cooperation Agency study
that showed the Philippines is losing around P2.4 billion dailybecause of heavy traffic.
Tugade estimated the losses in 2016 to be up to P3 billion a day.
"Sinabi ko ho ngayon at sinabi ko nang paulit-ulit na nababoy na ho ang kabuhayan ng mga Pilipino dahil sa
trapiko at transportasyon. Sobrang nababoy na sapagkat mas marami na ho ang panahon at oras na
iginugugol ng isang mamamayan sa isang kalsada na dapat igugol sa kanyang pamilya, sa kanyang
paghananap-buhay," Tugade said.
(I have repeatedly said that the lives of Filipinos have been violated by traffic and transportation. It has been
violated because so much time is being spent by citizens on the road instead of spending it with their family
and work.)
Duterte had urged Congress to grant him emergency powers to address the perennial urban traffic problem,
which has worsened over the years.
The Senate began conducting its own hearings on the President's request ahead of the House of
Representatives.
Should the 17th Congress grant Duterte emergency powers, the government may open upprivate subdivisions
to motorists to ease traffic in Metro Manila.
Tugade also suggested moving some government offices and factories in Metro Manila to nearby provinces,
even volunteering his own office.
"I am seriously considering transferring the Department of Transportation, dadalhin ko sa Clark para
mabawasan ang tao [sa Metro Manila]… I am seriously considering changing the working time, subject to the
approval of law, na 7 am to 4 pm para iyong hamon ng rush moment hindi na kami nakikisawsaw," he
explained.
(I am seriously considering transferring the Department of Transportation to Clark to lessen the number of
people in Metro Manila... I am seriously considering changing the working time, subject to the approval of law,
from 7 am to 4 pm so that we won't have to join the rush hour.)
"May mga factory tayo dito na baka puwede bigyan ng i-incentive, bigyan mo ng benefits para sa labas na
lang sila ng Metro Manila (We also have factories here that we could possibly give benefits and incentives to
so that they'll move outside Metro Manila)," Tugade added.
Several congressmen led by Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez have co-authored House Bill Number 3 or the Traffic
Crisis Act of 2016.
If passed into law, the bill would grant emergency powers to Duterte to address traffic for two years.
– Rappler.com
Heavy traffic affects businesses in Mukono Municipality
By Henry Nsubuga Added 4th October 2016 12:36 PM
Moses Ssonko, the officer in charge of traffic in Mukono Police division says from Monday to Friday,
morning and evening, some Saturdays, road users cannot escape the traffic jam in Mukono town and Seeta.
Ssonko says taxi drivers and bodaboda riders are the ones who mostly cause traffic jam. “More especially taxi
drivers who are so impatient. They always leave their lanes and drive on the shoulders where some cause
accidents which are also a major cause of traffic jam,” he said.
Also, the heavy trucks that are ever on the highway to and from the coast are also included among the
many reasons causing traffic in Mukono because they are ever heavy loaded and moving slowly.
For the people who leave in Mukono working in Kampala, they have to leave their homes as early as
4:30 and latest 5:00am if one wants to beat the jam.
Like for a person going to Kampala, escaping the traffic jam in Mukono town or Seeta alone is not
enough, one can also be delayed from Watoto church in Namanve, Bweyogerere, Kireka and Nakawa.
Ssonko said the municipality is challenged in a way that it only has one highway which is passing
through its centre adding that to fight the vice, the government must think of constructing another highway or
put in place alternative routes. “As a way of regulating traffic, we always carryout operations arresting illegal
drivers including those without driving permits and the ones driving vehicles which are in dangerous
mechanical conditions. Those operations reduce vehicles,” he said.
Eva Nakalanzi who works at Mukono Colline Hotel told New Vision that the number of workshops from
government and non-government organizations they used to host reduced as their clients cited traffic jam as a
biggest obstacle. “They consider delays by the traffic jam as they are coming in the morning and as they leave
in the evening. Instead they think about hotels in Kampala which decision leaves us out of business,” said
Nakalanzi.
Sylvia Nandutu, the director Pherry Junior School in Mukono Municipality said big schools in Mukono
have also lost some of their children as their parents got tired of spending over five hours on the road to and
from the schools either on reporting or as they close the term for holidays and during visitation days.
“We also find it hard during the morning as we collect pupils in school vans and in the evening taking
them back. Still traffic jams disturb us a lot and most of the days these pupils reach school late. Some days
parents call us quarrelling because their kids reach home late in the evening but it is because of traffic jam,”
she said.
Madrine Nyumera, a business woman in Mukono town who also owns a restaurant, said during heavy
traffic it is so hard for their customers to get a packing to have food or buy merchandise from the
supermarkets on the Kampala-Jinja highway.
Mukono Municipality Mayor, George Fred Kagimu said his council noticed with a great concern the
outcries of the business community as far as traffic jam in the business centre is concerned. “We are working
hard to increase our revenue base but we cannot be successful as the business community continues to cite
traffic jam as unsolved challenge,” he said.
Kagimu said the council petitioned Uganda National Roads Authority (UNRA) asking for a partnership
through which UNRA will help open and upgrade to standard over six bypasses which they thought will solve
the problem of traffic jam.
The Principal assistant town clerk for Mukono Municipality, Alex Nanyonga Sseruwagi named the
bypasses as follows; Lweza-Kikooza, Ntaawo-Nakabago, Kauga road, Namumira-Nabuti, Bbajjo-Seeta, Seeta-
Lwanda, Kitete and Nakawolole-Kirangira.
Kagimu praised the government for the work which saw Seeta-Namugongo road fully tarmacked,
Mukono-Kayunga road and Wantoni-Katosi-Nyenga road which are also under serious construction.
“However, I am afraid that their completion will just add salt into the injury because they will all be bringing
more vehicles to the town hence heavy unending traffic,” he noted.
Kagimu said they sought it wise to bring UNRA on board in order to solve the traffic jam problem
because the money they have for the roads sector cannot enable them fulfill their plan. He said the
Municipality in total has 350 kilometers of the road network but only 50 kilometers are tarmacked adding that
the money they get can only allow them tarmac one kilometer of the road to standard.
MP Nambooze wants government through UNRA to tarmac a road from Misindye junction on Seeta-
Namugongo road which was constructed recently up to Kiyunga town where it connects to Mukono Kayunga
road. She said if that road is worked upon fully, they can have vehicles from Kayunga branch off using that up
to Namugongo instead of reaching Mukono using Kampala-Jinja highway.
Carmaggedon redux: Will building more roads solve our
traffic problems?
JC Punongbayan / Published 11:29 AM, November 19, 2016
Many people have proposed various solutions to our traffic problems. Will building more roads
necessarily relieve traffic congestion and increase travel time in the long run?
Traffic congestion seems to have worsened more than a year since my original "Carmaggedon" piece
here on Rappler. Today even the ordinary trip to the grocery or mall has the potential to become a living
nightmare.
In response, many people have proposed various solutions to our traffic problems. One of the most common
we hear is the need to build more roads to accommodate the growing number of vehicles.
Indeed, the Duterte administration plans to embark on major road infrastructure projects, including
strategic expansions and linkages. The private sector is taking action as well: for instance, the builder of NLEX
is already undertaking a massive road widening project costing P2.6 billion.
But will building more roads necessarily relieve traffic congestion and increase travel time in the long run?
Induced demand
Whenever we drive or ride a vehicle, we pay a price. We pay not only explicit costs like fuel or tolls, but
also implicit costs in the form of money we lose by not working or relaxing. In other words, we also pay the
"opportunity cost" for our travel time.
Back in 2013, JICA estimated that the total explicit and implicit costs of Metro Manila traffic amount to P2.4
billion daily. If we do nothing to solve this, such costs could swell to P6 billion daily by 2030.
New roads or highways, however, reduce the costs of driving. They make more room for vehicles, relieve
traffic, and decrease fuel spending. They also reduce travel time and, hence, its opportunity cost.
But whenever the price of something goes down, we almost always purchase more of it. This "law of demand"
applies not only to goods like coffee and movies, but also to driving.
For example, why would young professionals ride the crowded MRT when, because of wider roads,
driving becomes much more comfortable and affordable? Or, why live in a crowded apartment near work
when one can just buy a car and drive home to one's family every day?
The same argument applies to leisure driving. For instance, the opening of TPLEX (Tarlac-Pangasinan-La
Union Expressway) has cut travel time to Baguio from 6 hours to 4 hours, making it easier and more
convenient for families and friends to go on road trips and spend weekends there.
Hence, new roads could induce people to buy cars or take more road travels than they otherwise
would. When most people think this way, then the construction of new roads could actually lead to more
traffic volume and congestion, rather than less.
Evidence for induced demand
Among transportation experts, this phenomenon is also known as the "induced demand effect" or the
"fundamental law of highway congestion", and this has been validated by numerous studies.
In the US, one prominent study found a clear and robust relationship between the creation of
highways and traffic flow in several US cities: "The extension of most major roads is met with a proportional
increase in traffic."
This finding applies to both private and commercial driving. Hence, creating new roads could also
increase the flow of large cargo trucks plying urban thoroughfares.
Another recent paper summarized the extant literature on induced demand. It found that, on average,
"a [road] capacity expansion of 10% is likely to increase [traffic flow] by 3% to 6% in the short-run and 6% to
10% in the long-run."
The paper also confirmed that the net increase in traffic flow originates not so much from vehicles
which transferred from older and slower routes into the expanded roads, but instead from the addition of new
vehicles on the road.
Lessening our dependence on cars
If building more roads could potentially cause more traffic, what alternative strategies can we resort to?
First, as a converse to the "induced demand effect", some studies suggest that reducing road capacity
may actually prove beneficial for motorists, in particular, and society in general.
The idea is to reduce our dependency on cars and make our cities more pedestrian-friendly rather than
car-friendly. Certain cities in Europe and the US have already closed off their central business districts to
vehicles altogether, with wide-ranging benefits in terms of congestion and pollution.
Second, instead of building more roads, installing bus- or train-based public transportation could work
better. Such projects are thankfully included in the Duterte administration's massive infrastructure plan called
"Build, Build, Build."
But even if buses and trains are a more compact way of moving people, some studies show that they
do not reduce road traffic significantly. Additional capacity induces people to take more bus and train rides
than they otherwise would – the induced demand effect all over again.
New technologies
Third, we could make road users pay for the congestion they cause unto all other motorists. Such
"congestion pricing" has, in fact, been successfully implemented in many parts of the world.
For example, when Singapore implemented congestion pricing back in 1975, it resulted in an immediate drop
of traffic by 75%. Today, the system's electronic version earns an average net profit of $US40 million annually,
which the Singaporean government uses to fund road improvements and other forms of public transportation.
Finally, perhaps we should expand our horizons and look deep into the future of transportation.
Rather than just building more roads, we should start thinking about the prospect of self-driving cars,
inter-vehicle communication, and intelligent road networks in Metro Manila and other urban areas – no
matter how farfetched these technologies may sound today.
For instance, by removing the human element altogether, self-driving cars will eliminate the pesky reaction
time which causes "phantom traffic jams".
Conclusion: More roads will never be enough
A knee-jerk proposal to solve our daily Carmaggedon woes is to build more roads to make room for the
growing number of vehicles.
But the evidence suggests that simply building more roads (or widening and expanding existing ones)
will never be enough. Instead, they could actually cause more traffic by inducing people to purchase more
vehicles and take more trips than they would otherwise take.
To be sure, we're not saying that the government's infrastructure plans are out of place. The
Philippines is lagging when it comes to public infrastructure spending, and we should definitely ramp it up
nearer the international benchmark of around 5% of GDP.
Instead, we should bear in mind that some types of infrastructure investments work better than others
in solving congestion, and we should prioritize them accordingly. Planners should take into account the
unintended consequences of building more roads and ask: "How many more vehicles will be added to the
streets if we construct more roads?"
By answering questions such as this, we can overhaul our urban landscapes to accommodate our
rapidly growing population. This is especially important since, for the first time in our history, more than
half of all Filipinos are projected to live in urban areas in the next few years. – Rappler.com
House panel approves bill on emergency powers
vs traffic
Mara Cepeda / Published 3:30 PM, January 18, 2017
Under HB 4334, the DOTr secretary would hold the emergency powers to address traffic in Metro Manila,
Metro Cebu, and Davao City for 3 years
MANILA, Phillippines – The House transportation committee approved the measure that would give
emergency powers to the Department of Transportation (DOTr) chief to address the perennial urban traffic
problem.
Voting unanimously, the committee members gave their nod to House Bill (HB) Number 4334 or the Traffic
Crisis Act of 2016 on Wednesday, January 18. The measure is now up for 2nd reading during the plenary
session.
President Rodrigo Duterte had earlier asked Congress to grant him emergency powers to solve traffic.
Under HB 4334, the DOTr secretary, as "alter ego" of the President, would be holding the emergency powers
for 3 years as traffic chief.
The DOTr secretary would also have jurisdiction over the traffic in Metro Manila, Metro Cebu, and Davao City,
plus overall control over the following traffic and transportation agencies:
 Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)

 Cebu Council
 Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG)
 Land Transportation Office (LTO)
 Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB)
 Road Board
 Metropolitan Davao Traffic Administrator
 All other executive agencies, bureaus, and offices with roles pertaining to land transportation
regulation
The traffic chief would also have the power to formulate and oversee the implementation of existing public
transport operations, infrastructure requirements, the use of thoroughfares, traffic enforcement operations,
traffic engineering services, and traffic education programs.
"Ang number one personality dito sa Traffic Crisis Act [ay] 'yung traffic chief. Now, 'yung traffic chief, sino ang
appropriate agency na magiging traffic chief, ang Department of Transportation kasi hawak niya ang LTO,
LTFRB. And then 'yung MMDA naman, it has something to do with traffic," said House transportation panel
chairperson Cesar Sarmiento.
(The number one personality here in the Traffic Crisis Act is the traffic chief. Now, the traffic chief will be
coming from the appropriate agency which is the Department of Transportation because the LTO, LTFRB are
under him. The MMDA, meanwhile, has something to do with traffic.)
Unlike its counterpart proposals in the Senate, however, HB 4334 will not be establishing an Office of the
Traffic Crisis Manager under the Office of the President.
"So siguro itutuloy namin 'yung meeting namin with Senator [Grace] Poe para i-harmonize, para mas mapabilis
ang pag-approve ng bill na ito (So perhaps we would continue meeting with Senator Grace Poe so we can
harmonize the bills, to fast-track the approval of this bill)," said Sarmiento, Catanduanes representative.
'Not a miracle vs traffic'
According to Sarmiento, the approved measure will not automatically fix the traffic problem.
"Precisely this bill is intended to address, mitigate, but it's not a cure-all, magic, miracle na pag na-approve ito,
talagang malulutasan (that when it is approved, it will immediately solve the issue)," said Sarmiento.
"But overall kasi, hindi lang infrastructure… May iba't ibang traffic ordinance tayo sa LGUs (local government
units), 'di magkatugma. So dito sa batas na ito, 'yung traffic chief, iha-harmonize," he added.
(But overall, this will not just involve infrastructure. We have traffic ordinances in LGUs that do not match. So
under this bill, the traffic chief would harmonize them.)
Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez earlier slammed the "uncooperative" DOTr for the delaying the approval of HB
4334 in the House.
Alvarez said the department helmed by Secretary Arthur Tugade must be able to lay out its concrete plans to
address the country's urban traffic woes. (READ: Tugade clarifies: Traffic problem a 'state of chaos, not a state
of mind’)
Rumors have been spreading that Alvarez, former Department of Transportation and Communications chief,
would be given the DOTr post. But he denied this, saying becoming a Cabinet secretary would be
a "demotion" from being Speaker.
Hanoi to ban motorbikes by 2030 to curb pollution,
traffic
Agence France-Presse / Published 9:12 PM, July 04, 2017
Critics have blamed the emissions-heavy motorbikes for Hanoi's deteriorating air quality and worsening traffic
congestion.
HANOI, Vietnam – Officials in Vietnam's traffic-choked capital Hanoi vowed on Tuesday, July 4, to banish
motorbikes by 2030 to ease environment and congestion woes, a decision that swiftly divided a city where
two-wheelers are the main means of transportation.
Hanoi is famed for legions of motorbikes – sometimes stacked with entire families or overloaded with
deliveries – that clog roads in a fast-growing city with limited public transportation.
There are 5 million motorbikes among a population of about 7 million, compared to half a million cars on the
road.
In a country where the average annual wage is still around $2,200, the affordability of motorbikes makes them
ubiquitous.
Yet critics have blamed the emissions-heavy motorbikes for Hanoi's deteriorating air quality and worsening
traffic congestion.
The decision to ban motorbikes by 2030 was approved by 95 out of 96 city councilors at a meeting on
Tuesday.
Officials said the number of vehicles was growing at an "alarming" rate, according to a report on the city
government's website.
"Traffic jams and air pollution will become serious in the future if no immediate management measures are in
place," the report said.
The ban will be implemented in metropolitan districts and public transport options would be increased to
wean people off their scooters, the report added.
The number of registered motorbikes in Vietnam is among the highest in Southeast Asia, and officials in Hanoi
have long-mulled banning the bikes in an effort to modernize the city along the lines of Seoul or Tokyo.
Some welcomed the move, saying the ban is crucial to cleaning up Hanoi's air, which is notoriously smoggy in
the winter months.
"Too many private cars, too many motorbikes... the quality of air is really bad and the decision made today will
improve that," economist and transport expert Luong Hoai Nam told Agence France-Presse (AFP).
'Totally insane'
The city clocked 282 days of "excessive" levels of PM2.5 – fine particulate matter harmful to human health –
last year, according to non-governmental group GreenID, citing World Health Organization guidelines.
The Hanoi government is rolling out an air monitoring system in an effort to make Hanoi "green and clean and
civilized so that people living and working here have a high quality of life", Nguyen Trong Dong, the head of
the city's environment department told AFP last month.
On social media, some people decried the motorbike ban announcement – questioning whether the
government will really offer viable public transport alternatives as promised.
"This idea is totally insane," said office worker Hoang Thuy Duong, who rides a motorbike to work daily.
"Motorbikes are the best means of transportation in Hanoi. I doubt authorities can replace them with public
vehicles," she told AFP.
Hanoi does not have a metro system, only public buses which account for 12% of travel demand in the city.
Officials said Tuesday they plan to boost that share to around 50% by 2030.
Construction of a sky train in the city has been repeatedly delayed but is slated to open next year.
Some said limiting individual vehicle use is not effective without efficient public transport in place.
"When you just employ banning as one measure they never succeed," said Jung Eun Oh, senior transport
specialist at the World Bank in Vietnam. – Rappler.com
Duterte's EDSA traffic: Data say it's faster, drivers say
nothing's changed
Rambo Talabong / Published 7:15 AM, July 05, 2017
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority says that the travel time along EDSA has been cut by at least
14 minutes
MANILA, Philippines – In the 3 years that he's been driving a bus along EDSA, Sitro Jaime, 34, wakes up at 4 am
every day and goes home at 1:00 am, if he's lucky.
Heavy traffic makes it impossible for him to get a snooze longer than 3 hours.
"Hindi kaya [pahabain ang tulog], masyadong malala ang traffic," he told Rappler. (I couldn't sleep longer, the
traffic is too bad.)
"Wala naman [na pagbabago], parang lumala [pa] 'yung traffic," he said when asked how his day has changed
ever since President Rodrigo Duterte assumed office. (Nothing has changed, it seems like it even became
worse.)
Duterte's campaign was anchored for large part on the metro ills that the Aquino administration wasn't able
to address. Jaime, in fact, voted for him and remains a loyal supporter.
Jeyson Morgado, 63, has been driving along EDSA for 31 years. Like Jaime, he says nothing has changed for the
past year.
"1986 pa ako sa EDSA, dati wala pa 'yang mga flyover, 'yang overpass. Ngayon meron na, ang sikip pa rin,"
Morgado said. (I have been driving along EDSA since 1986, before there were flyovers or overpasses. Now that
they're here, traffic is still bad.)
Officials and numbers say otherwise, however.
Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Thomas Orbos says the traffic along
EDSA has sped up.
“We have brought down travel distance to at least 14 minutes, even during peak hours, even during
Christmas. We did that last year and we're going to improve it more this year,” he told Rappler.
MMDA's data support Orbos’ claim. The average travel time along EDSA in July 2016 was 1 hour, 26 minutes,
and 22 seconds. The current average travel time for June 2017 is 1 hour, 8 minutes, and 47 seconds – a 17-
minute difference.
MMDA computed the average travel time by recording the time it took to complete EDSA northbound (Roxas
Boulevard to Monumento) and EDSA southbound (Monumento to Roxas Boulevard) during peak hours and
off-peak hours then computing their average.
This is already an achievement, Orbos said, as the number of motor vehicles in Metro Manila has been
increasing every year. In 2016 alone, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) saw an additional 87,918 vehicles to
the 2,317,204 registered vehicles in 2015.
Urgency has come
If there’s one thing that made the minutes of difference under the Duterte administration possible, it’s the
sense of urgency, Orbos said.
“Because they (other officials) saw the President [is] a man of action. His words are translated into actual
action regardless of politics; regardless of any other considerations, he will do it. And I think that one is a clear
signal that the same goes for us,” said Orbos, who was assistant general manager for planning at MMDA
during the time of President Benigno Aquino III.
The previous administration, while pursuing efforts to fix the traffic mess, did not see the problem as a
priority. Former Transport Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya even downplayed the issue, tagging it as “not fatal,”
then regretting the statement after. (READ: Traffic, urban woes, and the Aquino administration's image
problem)
After he assumed office, Duterte immediately sought Congress for emergency powers that would enable him
to override public bidding for a period of two years for faster implementation of transportation projects. It
would also allow him to re-organize the different transport agencies to streamline their coordination and
install the transportation secretary as the traffic chief.
The bill at the Senate is awaiting the plan and assurance of the Department of Transportation (DOTr) that the
President would not abuse these powers. Its counterpart in the House of Representatives is up for second
reading after being approved by the transportation committee.
Despite the delay in Congress, Duterte was able to establish the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (i-Act), which
consists of the DOTr, the Philippine National Police's Highway Patrol Group (HPG), Land Transportation Office
(LTO), Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), and the MMDA.
This cooperation of agencies, according to Orbos, was instrumental in changing the workflow in solving the
traffic problem. Back then, Orbos said, transport agencies and local government units of the metro were
operating kanya-kanya (on their own).
“Before, it was so difficult for MMDA to secure information from their counterparts in LTO and LTFRB,” Orbos
said.
Now, Orbos says, they can easily access information from other agencies and they have formed emergency
response teams. These are no longer just peopled with MMDA enforcers, but also volunteers from other
transport agencies.
Orbos credits the political will of President Duterte for triggering cooperation from the local government units
of the National Capital Region, which were not cooperative before, rendering traffic policies “inutil” (useless)
as lawmaker Winnie Castelo described it.
“If you remember, we used to say each city is a kingdom: there’s the kingdom of Makati, to each his own.
Now, the agreement to work together is there,” Orbos said.
Volume problem
Under Orbos's chairmanship – he held the post for 8 months before the President appointed Danny Lim – the
MMDA targeted the reduction of traffic volume, given that EDSA brims with 7,000 cars at a time while its
capacity is only 6,000. (WATCH: Rappler Talk: MMDA's Orbos on Metro Manila's traffic woes)
Orbos established two major traffic policies: the closure of “window hours” for the number coding scheme,
and the light truck ban.
Closing window hours meant extending the effectivity of the number coding scheme, which bans private
vehicles on the basis of the last number of their registration plates. Before, coding was only enforced from
10:00 am to 3:00 pm, leaving rush hours (6-10 am, 5-10 pm) open for all.
With the new policy, coding has been enforced from 7:00 am to 8:00 pm.
The light truck ban, in turn, led to the barring of some 3,000 light trucks from passing through Edsa
southbound from 6 am to 10 am and Edsa northbound from 5 pm to 10 pm.
Aside from these two changes, Orbos engaged with public utility vehicle (PUV) operators, making sure that
drivers only pick up passengers at designated stops, as drivers have a penchant for stopping wherever riders
flock, blocking entire lanes in the process.
Lim, on the other hand, has been bringing change through his “back to basics” approach, which focuses on
eradicating corruption of both MMDA personnel and motorists. (READ: How Danny Lim plans to solve Metro
Manila's traffic problem)
To cement the cooperation of the metro LGUs, the MMDA under Lim is backing two House bills that would
allow MMDA to pass ordinances that become effective metro-wide, upon the approval of city councils.
Under Lim, the MMDA has announced it is considering expanding the coding scheme to double the number of
private vehicles banned per day. The pitch has been met with criticism, and the MMDA later clarified it as an
idea floated "to test the waters."
Minutes matter
For Orbos, the minutes of difference that a year made – which motorists supposedly have not felt – is still a
standing difference.
“There are many problems, a lot of problems,” Orbos said. “But the thing is, the problem keeps on worsening.
What you need to do is really look at each problem in its singularity, you deal with them one by one and try to
solve it one step at a time. There’s no shortcut.”
Why is the progress not felt on the ground? According to MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago, it’s because the
difference is just not “big enough yet” that people would feel it.
“You will not feel it, I must admit, it would be very hard to claim the success na gumagaan ang daloy ng
trapiko (that the traffic has become lighter) because if we will interview the motorists one by one, eh wala
silang sasabihin sayo kundi natatrapik sila (they will not say anything aside from they experienced traffic),”
Pialago told Rappler.
“Merong hindi sasang-ayon, may hindi papabor, may hindi maniniwala, may tutuligsa ganon naman
talaga (There will be those who will not agree, those who will not favor, those who will not believe, those who
will say otherwise, but that’s how it is),” Pialago added.
Despite drivers not feeling the change that their data has shown, Pialago said that MMDA will only continue
with what they are doing. “Hindi kami mapapagod (We will not give up),” Pialago said.
Before then, drivers like Jaime and Morgado, would have to continue waiting for the change, one minute at a
time, until it is felt. – Rappler.com
Poe urges Duterte: Tell your allies to pass
emergency traffic powers
Rappler.com / Published 3:52 PM, July 23, 2017
Senator Poe says having emergency powers will help Duterte implement his 'build, build, build' program
MANILA, Philippines – Ahead of his 2nd State of the Nation Address (SONA) on Monday, July 24, Senator Grace
Poe urged President Rodrigo Duterte to nudge his allies in the Senate to pass the bill granting him emergency
powers to respond to problems of traffic and congestion.
"Maraming kaalyado ang Pangulo hindi ba? So medyo sabihan, na ipasa na natin. Sa tingin ko makikinig sila,"
Poe said on Sunday, July 23 in an interview on radio dzBB.
(The President has many allies, right? So he should tell them to pass it. I think they will listen.)
Poe, as chair of the Senate committee on public services, has been pushing for the passage of Senate Bill No.
1284 or “An Act Compelling the Government to Address the Transportation and Congestion Crisis Through the
Grant of Emergency Powers to the President.”
The bill is still being deliberated by senators, she said. Its version at the House of Representatives is also being
deliberated.
She said she hopes Duterte will include it in his priority bills when he delivers his SONA on Monday.
It was Duterte who raised the possible need for emergency powers to solve traffic woes in his first SONA July
last year, but has since toned down his stance. In May, he said he will no longer insist on emergency powers
following doubts from some lawmakers about the transparency of budgetary processes.
"Tinanong ko nga mismo iyong Pangulo, 'Mr. President do you need the emergency powers?' Ang sagot naman
niya sa akin, 'mapagkakatiwalaan mo si Sec. Tugade' pero hindi iyong eksaktong kasama doon sa mga priority
measures ng unang SONA niya," Poe said.
(I asked him directly, 'Mr President do you need emergency powers?' He answered me, 'you can trust
Transportation Secretary Art Tugade.' It wasn't also directly included in his priority measures in his last SONA.)
Poe said that among Duterte's emergency powers, if granted, will be:
1. Instead of a zonal value, government will be able to offer to buy for a fair market value private lands
which need to be utilized for infrastructure
2. Funds will be available to the government to relocate informal settlers currently living on government
lands which need to be utilized for infrastructure
3. Emergency procurement methods for urgent needs such as equipment for Metro Rail Transit (MRT)
Poe said that should emergency powers be granted, an oversight committee will be established to ensure that
the processes will not be used for corruption.
She said emergency powers will help the Duterte administration's 'Build, Build, Build'program.
"Mayroon nga kayong ‘build, build, bulid' program ay puro naman balakid ng kaso, balakid ng right of way
issue, balakid ng local government concerns, kapag hindi naman ninyo naresolba iyan, hindi iyan matutuloy.
Kaya nga ang ginagawa natin sa abot ng ating makakaya, sa ating poder, iyong ating kontribusyon dito, pero
konting tulong din doon sa iba na para naman ito ay umusad na," she said.
(You have a 'build, build, build' program but it is always blocked by lawsuits, right of way issues, local
government concerns. If you don't resolve that, this will not progress. That's why I'm doing all I can in the
Senate, this is my contribution, but I need help from others for this to move along.) – Rappler.com
Heavy traffic on Commonwealth Avenue
as MRT 7 work begins
Erika Sauler / Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:02 AM August 14, 2017
The Metro Rail Transit 7 (MRT 7) Traffic Management Task Force has advised motorists of possible traffic
buildup on Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City as construction of the guideway for Station 3 starts
tomorrow, Aug. 15.
From seven lanes in both directions, the stretch of Commonwealth Avenue from University Avenue to
Central Avenue will be reduced to five each in the northbound and southbound lanes.
The construction of Station 3 (University Avenue Station) is expected to last until April 2018.
One lane of Commonwealth southbound and two lanes northbound between Katuparan and Kaunlaran
Streets will also be affected by the construction of Station 7 in the Manggahan area.
The interagency traffic management task force asked motorists to cooperate by following traffic rules
and to exercise more patience in anticipation of heavy traffic for the duration of the construction period.
The transportation department said the 22-kilometer railway connecting Quezon City and Bulacan
province was expected to be completed in the last quarter of 2019.
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/922467/heavy-traffic-on-commonwealth-avenue-as-

mrt-7-work-begins#ixzz4wISdVpkS
PH to ink deal with Singapore on solving traffic woes
Jovic Yee / Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:03 AM August 29, 2017
Transport officials are turning to Singapore for help in addressing the country’s perennial traffic problem
which is costing the economy at least P2.4 billion dailies.
Tim Orbos, the transport undersecretary for road transport, said on Monday that within the year, the
Department of Transportation (DOTr) would enter into an agreement with the Singaporean government to help
the country deal with its traffic woes.
“They will help us properly manage [our transport systems] in Metro Manila and in the entire Philippines, similar
to what they did in Singapore,” Orbos said in a TV interview.
Among the key programs the DOTr was eyeing was the use of the automated fare collection system.
Also, only a few corporations in Singapore run the country’s transport systems as Orbos said they were urging
existing operators to form cooperatives.
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/926282/ph-to-ink-deal-with-singapore-on-solving-

traffic-woes#ixzz4wISSqBqm
MMDA not keen on traffic-easing measures for
holiday season
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:05 AM September 05, 2017
Patience will be a must this holiday season for shoppers.
As policemen stepped up their visibility in malls with the start of the “ber” months, the Metropolitan
Manila Development Authority (MMDA) asked the public to schedule their trips to shopping centers in the
absence of new traffic-easing measures to be implemented for the holiday season.
“I am giving instructions to my subordinate commanders to maximize their police presence because the
economic activity is more robust during the ‘ber’ months. People spend. Everybody wants to enjoy. Everybody
wants to feel the spirit of Christmas and criminals take advantage of that,” Philippine National Police (PNP)
Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa said on Monday.
De la Rosa acknowledged that more crimes take place during the Christmas season because criminals
know that “people have money.”
Meanwhile, Jojo Garcia, MMDA assistant general manager for planning, said on Monday that with
different malls located in every city in the metropolis, shoppers should just go to the establishments nearest to
them to prevent the worsening of traffic flow during the holidays.
“Let’s schedule [our visit to the malls]. What we are saying is that if you’re from Manila, don’t go to Quezon City
just to shop,” Garcia told reporters.
While he acknowledged that they could not dictate on the public’s buying habits, especially given the
limited budget of most shoppers, what they were asking for was everyone’s cooperation.
Within the month, Garcia said they would meet with mall operators to discuss how they could deal with
the traffic problem during the holidays. He added that they would ask mall operators to inform the MMDA of an
upcoming sale three day before to help them better manage traffic.
Last year, the MMDA implemented the “no-window hours” policy to address congestion during the
holidays. This year, Garcia said they would not introduce any volume reduction measure, noting that this would
prove to be a challenge given that “our mass transportation [system wasn’t] that effective yet.” —With a report
from Nikko Dizon
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/927928/mmda-not-keen-on-traffic-easing-measures-for-

holiday-season#ixzz4wIS3W2Zi
Immunity from traffic violations sends 'wrong message' –
House opposition
Bea Cupin / Published 11:42 AM, September 19, 2017
Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman also points out that the immunity doesn't extend to the drivers
of legislators
MANILA, Philippines – Lawmakers from independent blocs in the House of Representatives on Tuesday,
September 19, criticized the move to grant lawmakers immunity from minor traffic violations while Congress is
in session.
“The apparent off-the-cuff invocation of constitutional immunity from arrest for offenses punishable with
imprisonment of not more than 6 years is uncalled for,” Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman said in
a statement, referring to the appeal of Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas.
During a transportation committee hearing, Fariñas said that the apprehension of lawmakers for minor traffic
violations en route to Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City gets in the way of their job.
Fariñas cited Article IV, Section 11 of the Constitution, which states: “A Senator or Member of the House of
Representatives shall, in all offenses punishable by not more than 6 years imprisonment, be privileged from
arrest while the Congress is in session. No member shall be questioned nor be held liable in any other place
for any speech or debate in Congress or in any committee thereof.”
He added that Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez can surrender the erring legislator once session ends.
Still, this argument did not sit well for Lagman. “To my knowledge, no representative has been detained or
arrested for a traffic violation and no incumbent has asked for any immunity from arrest or detention for a
traffic infraction… It sends the wrong message that there is no speed limit for representatives during session
days,” he said.
Bayan Muna Representative Carlos Zarate said Fariñas’ appeal only highlights the difference in the application
of the law on those in power and on ordinary citizens.
“Lalo nitong patitingkarin na may ibang batas para sa may kapangyarihan at sa karaniwang tao. Dapat ay
maging huwaran ang mga mambabatas para tuparin ang mga ito. Mga simpleng empleyado o kawani o
maging mga mambabatas o matataas na opisyal ay lahat apektado talaga sa malalang traffic. Lahat ay may
mga mahalaga ring gawain sa araw-araw na sasabak sila sa daang matrapik, kaya mas dapat ay wala nang
napapaboran pa,” he said.
(This will only highlight that there is a difference in the application of the law on those in power and on
ordinary people. Lawmakers should be models in terms of the implementation of the law. Simple employees
or staff members of lawmakers or high officials are all affected by horrible traffic. All of them have an
important job to do and they all have to endure traffic. It’s better if we don’t give any favors to anyone.)
Traffic in Metro Manila and even in nearby provinces has steadily worsened through the years. The worst
traffic is in EDSA, the mega city’s main thoroughfare, while traffic along Commonwealth Avenue, among the
main roads leading to the Batasan Pambansa, has also become heavier following the start of construction of
MRT-7.
When asked about the possibility that some lawmakers abuse their apparent privilege of immunity, Fariñas
told media: “Do not vote for them as members of Congress. Complainants can, of course, file cases and have
them arrested when Congress is not in session. Members of Congress are not immune or privileged from suits
or cases, but shall ‘be privileged privileged from arrest while the Congress is in session.’”
Lagman, meanwhile, pointed out that not all legislators drive their own cars.
“Moreover, invariably representatives have drivers and any immunity does not extend to their drivers or to
the security back-up of some of them,” he added.
– Rappler.com
On traffic violations, Malacañang wants 'no special
treatment' for congressmen
Pia Ranada / Published 12:52 PM, September 19, 2017
Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella hopes lawmakers can 'bring themselves to the President's standards'
MANILA, Philippines – Malacañang disagrees with the move to grant immunity to congressmen for minor
traffic violations.
On Tuesday, September 19, Presidential Spokesman Ernesto Abella said that if President Rodrigo Duterte
himself waves off special privileges, his allies in Congress should do the same.
"The President himself continues to observe a modest lifestye and he seeks no special treatment, whether
inside or outside the Palace. We hope our colleagues in Congress, especially our allies, can bring themselves to
do the same," he said during a Malacañang news briefing.
It was House Majority Floor Leader Rodolfo Fariñas who asked transportation agencies during a committee
hearing if leeway can be given to representatives who commit minor traffic violations on their way to
Batasang Pambansa in Quezon City to attend a session.
House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez would then bring the erring congressman to authorities after the session,
suggested the lawmaker.
But Abella said traffic laws do not exempt anyone.
"Law is law and it shoud be blind to all," he said.
But not all lawmakers agree with Fariñas' suggestion.
Albay 1st District Representative Edcel Lagman of the opposition said the move "sends the wrong message."
Duterte's spokesman said hopes representatives "can also bring themselves to the President’s standards" and
that there should be "no special treatment".
President Duterte has himself expressed outrage over special car plates given to public officials and over the
use of sirens or "wang-wang".
He also claimed he avoids attending engagements in Metro Manila outside Malacañang because of the traffic
caused by his convoy's use of roads. – Rappler.com
FAST FACTS: Most commonly violated traffic laws in
Metro Manila
Kimiko Sy / Published 4:29 PM, September 19, 2017
Assuming one violation per vehicle, almost half of all the registered vehicles in the National Capital Region
figured in a traffic violation in 2016
MANILA, Philippines – There were 209,830 cases of traffic violations in Metro Manila in 2016, according to
government data.
Assuming one violation per vehicle, almost half of all the registered vehicles in the National Capital Region
figured in a traffic violation last year. There were 468,521 registered vehicles in the National Capital Region in
2016.
These recorded traffic violations – which excludes cases of violators who were waved off or were not issued
tickets – reflect cases of "human error."
Human error is identified as the top cause of road crashes in the city, according to data from Metro Manila
Accident Recording and Analysis System (MMARAS). (READ: Human error: Leading cause of road mishaps in
Metro Manila )
Human error, as defined by the MMARAS, refers to the different forms of negligence and physical challenges
or distractions that a driver faces, leading to road crashes.
Human error is also the recorded cause of 15 fatalities, 884 injuries and 2,629 cases of damage to property in
2016.
The table below shows the top 15 violations of traffic law, according to the MMDA:
The most violated traffic law since 2014 is disregarding traffic signs, followed by obstruction.
The penalty for violation of these traffic laws are considered cheap. Disregarding traffic signals, for instance,
carries a penalty of only P150 for the first to the third offense.
The same penalty applied to violators of obstruction, the second most violated traffic law. The numbers of
violators of obstruction increased by 7,647 or 16.72% to 45,729 in 2016, from 38,082 violators in 2015.
Fourteen of the 15 listed violations have been consistently part of the top violations since 2014. In 2016, only
the violation of motorists not wearing helmets was replaced by buses not following their organized route.
Disregarding organized bus routes include skipping designated terminals or loading bays, running without a
dispatch number, and failure to surrender the dispatch number at the designated exit area.
Here is the list the top violations with their corresponding fines:
VIOLATIONS. MMDA records show the top violations in Metro Manila last 2016. Source: MMDA
From the list, only the violation on reckless driving has increasing penalties per succeeding offense. Most of
the traffic violations listed might not have a big impact on the motorist's pockets since almost all the listed
apprehensions do not exceed the P500-penalty, except violations on the truck ban, overspeeding, organized
bus routes, and reckless driving (on the third offense).
MMDA efforts
Bong Edison Nebrija, MMDA supervising officer for operations, cites motorists' behavior as one of the
contributing factors to the traffic situation in Metro Manila.
"To address this, we have intensified our apprehension, both physical and the non-contact. This is also one
way of disciplining drivers and make them aware that traffic violations have stiff penalties and taints their
driving records," says Nebrija.
He adds that the MMDA is continuously training its men to come up with a reward and punishment scheme to
sustain the apprehension rate.
"The MMDA believes that going back to basics and having a corrupt-free system is an important component of
the traffic management that we are currently implementing," Nebrija adds.
On September 6, the MMDA began its Interagency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) operations to address traffic
problems through inter-agency coordination and pooling of resources and personnel.
Among its objectives is to clear out road obstructions such as illegally parked vehicles, which has been among
the top traffic violations since 2014. (READ: Cop who operates 'colorum' jeepneys threatens MMDA officer) –
Rappler.com
Indonesia traffic jam forces president to walk instead

Agence France-Presse / Published 3:05 PM, October 05, 2017
The country's traffic nightmares were aptly illustrated when President Joko Widodo had to walk more than
two kilometers to attend a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of the Indonesian military's founding
JAKARTA, Indonesia – Indonesia's notorious traffic congestion was on display for the world Thursday, October
5 after the country's president was forced to walk two kilometers through the scorching heat to attend a
military parade.
Graft-ridden Indonesia is home to one of Asia's most inefficient bureaucracies and gridlock plagues many of
the archipelago's largest towns.
The country's traffic nightmares were aptly illustrated when President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo had to walk
more than two kilometers to attend a ceremony marking the 72nd anniversary of the Indonesian military's
founding.
Jokowi and senior government officials were held up by gridlock as they approached the military parade in
Cilegon, a port city about two-and-a-half hours’ drive from the capital Jakarta, the presidential palace said.
After a 30-minute wait, "the president then decided from inside the car that he would walk," Jokowi's guard Ili
Dasili said in a statement.
National police chief Tito Karnavian, who was also stuck in the jam, joined the president.
Video footage shows the president walking with a phalanx of security personnel while spectators yell and
chant his name.
Jokowi's unorthodox entrance wasn't lost on social media users, who questioned why the leader of Southeast
Asia's largest economy was compelled to walk to the event.
"How come the president walked for two kilometres to the military anniversary location, why didn't they give
him the privilege of vacating the road or taking him in a helicopter?" Twitter user @Pujithegooners wrote.
– Rappler.com
MMDA: Malls adjusting skeds to help ease holiday traffic
Jovic Yee / Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:25 AM October 08, 2017
As the holiday season draws near, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) expects to
reduce by at least 3,200 the number of vehicles plying Edsa during the morning rush hour by implementing
traffic measures involving shopping malls located along the major thoroughfare.
Starting Oct. 15, malls across the capital would no longer be allowed to hold weekday sales, according to
Jojo Garcia, MMDA assistant general manager for planning.
The mall operators also agreed to the MMDA’s request to open late at 11 a.m. and hold nighttime
deliveries for nonperishable goods.
Garcia said the MMDA would implement these measures a month earlier than last year and up to Jan. 15
next year.
Based on MMDA data, the number of vehicles in Metro Manila increases by 20 percent in the period
leading to Christmas.
With these measures, it is estimated that around 200 vehicles making trips to each mall may be taken off
total volume on Edsa during the morning rush hour, Garcia said.
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/936351/mmda-metro-manila-malls-metro-manila-

traffic-holiday-traffic#ixzz4wIQQ5Jw0
MMDA not keen on traffic-easing measures for
holiday season
Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:05 AM September 05, 2017
Patience will be a must this holiday season for shoppers.
As policemen stepped up their visibility in malls with the start of the “ber” months, the Metropolitan
Manila Development Authority (MMDA) asked the public to schedule their trips to shopping centers in the
absence of new traffic-easing measures to be implemented for the holiday season.
“I am giving instructions to my subordinate commanders to maximize their police presence because the
economic activity is more robust during the ‘ber’ months. People spend. Everybody wants to enjoy. Everybody
wants to feel the spirit of Christmas and criminals take advantage of that,” Philippine National Police (PNP)
Director General Ronald “Bato” de la Rosa said on Monday.
De la Rosa acknowledged that more crimes take place during the Christmas season because criminals
know that “people have money.”
Meanwhile, Jojo Garcia, MMDA assistant general manager for planning, said on Monday that with
different malls located in every city in the metropolis, shoppers should just go to the establishments nearest to
them to prevent the worsening of traffic flow during the holidays.
“Let’s schedule [our visit to the malls]. What we are saying is that if you’re from Manila, don’t go to Quezon City
just to shop,” Garcia told reporters.
While he acknowledged that they could not dictate on the public’s buying habits, especially given the
limited budget of most shoppers, what they were asking for was everyone’s cooperation.
Within the month, Garcia said they would meet with mall operators to discuss how they could deal with
the traffic problem during the holidays. He added that they would ask mall operators to inform the MMDA of an
upcoming sale three day before to help them better manage traffic.
Last year, the MMDA implemented the “no-window hours” policy to address congestion during the
holidays. This year, Garcia said they would not introduce any volume reduction measure, noting that this would
prove to be a challenge given that “our mass transportation [system wasn’t] that effective yet.” —With a report
from Nikko Dizon
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/927928/mmda-not-keen-on-traffic-easing-measures-for-

holiday-season#ixzz4wIS3W2Zi
Rappler Talk: Solutions to Metro Manila traffic and road

safety issues;
Rappler.com / Published 1:47 PM, October 12, 2017
Rappler talks to transportation expert and UP professor Primitivo Cal on possible solutions to traffic and road
safety issues in Metro Manila
MANILA, Philippines – Traffic has been one of the major issues that people living and working in Metro Manila
face every day. According to a study, being stuck in traffic and the extra cost of operating vehicles in gridlock
in metropolitan Manila and nearby areas amounted to P2.4 billion ($51 million) a day in 2014.
Not only this, Metro Manila alone recorded 109,322 road crash incidents in 2016. According to the data,
motorcycle riders and pedestrians are the most vulnerable to such incidents, while human error is the
identified cause for these crashes.
Public transportation has not improved as well. Recently, there were viral photos that showed several long
lines snaking from the entrance of the LRT2's Santolan Station. The same long lines can also be seen at the
other train lines in Metro Manila.
What are the possible causes and solutions for this growing problem? Are our laws comprehensive enough?
On Thursday, October 12, at 3 pm, Rappler researcher Aika Rey and Primitivo Cal, a transportation expert and
University of the Philippines professor, will discuss the best possible solutions to these issues.
Cal served as an undersecretary of the Department of Transportation and Communications from 1993 to 1998.
Participate in the conversation by posting on Facebook and Twitter with the hashtag #SaferRoadsPH or by
joining the Facebook group. – Rappler.com
What is happening outside Metro Manila during the
nationwide transport strike
Rappler.com / Published 7:27 AM, October 16, 2017
(UPDATED) Transport group PISTON says thousands of jeepney operators and drivers from the various
provinces and areas will join the transport strike on Monday and Tuesday
MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) Will the nationwide transport strike scheduled on Monday to Tuesday,
October 16 and 17, affect the whole country?
Various local government units within and outside Metro Manila are gearing for the worst-case scenario,
preparing to assist commuters who will be stranded on the road.
Malacañang has even suspended classes at all levels and government work nationwide on Monday
and Tuesday due to the transport strike.
According to the national transport group Pinagkaisang Samahan ng mga Tsuper at Operator Nationwide
(PISTON), thousands of jeepney operators and drivers from the following provinces and areas will join the
transport strike: Isabela province, Metro Baguio, Pampanga, Bulacan, Laguna, Quezon, Batangas, Albay,
Camarines Sur, Sorsogon, Masbate, Cebu, Cagayan De Oro, Iligan, Bukidnon, Gensan, Davao City, Butuan City
and the Surigao provinces.
However, drivers in the two major metropolitan areas in the Visayas and Mindanao – Cebu and Davao – are
not joining the second day of the nationwide transport strike against the government’s planned jeepney
modernization program.
Here’s a rundown of what will happen outside Metro Manila for the nationwide transport strike.
Luzon
Drivers in Bicol – belonging to Condor Piston Bicol and the No to Jeepney Phase Out Coalition – are expected
to join the nationwide coordinated transport strike on Monday.
To assist stranded commuters, Albay Governor Al Francis Bichara said there will be "libreng sakay" or free
rides to ply the Daraga-Legazpi routes. Free rides will also be provided for commuters who will be travelling to
Tiwi and Polangui.
In his advisory, Bichara also suggested "early marketing and buying" of food and medicine.
Cabuyao Mayor Mel Gecolea also announced that the local government unit will be deploying afew vehicles
around the Laguna town to assist stranded commuters.
"The route is [from the] boundary of Cabuyao-Calamba and [the] boundary of Cabuyao-Sta. Rosa," Mayor
Gecolea said.
Visayas
Despite assurance from the transport group Piston Cebu that it does not seek to cripple the transport system
in Cebu, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) in Central Visayas will be providing
alternative rides for passengers who might get stranded on Monday and Tuesday.
According to LTFRB, bus companies have also pledged to field buses that can travel out of line to serve strike-
affected passengers at a special fare of P10.
On the first day of the strike, 15 buses will be deployed for stranded commuters. Meanwhile, Lapu-Lapu City
will be mobilizing barangay vehicles and buses at two transport terminals in Cebu City.
“In coordination with the LTFRB, we are also deploying vehicles to assist in the possible shortage of public
transport as cancellation of work in the private sector remains to be the discretion of their respective
management,” Mandaue City Mayor Luigi R. Quisumbing also said in his post.
Meanwhile, transports groups in Western Visayas said they will not be participating in the nationwide
transport strike. According to reports, local transport groups in Iloilo City will instead hold a “transport caravan
protest” from terminal to terminal.
Mindanao
Hundreds of jeepneys and tricycles are expected to suspend operations in 47 routes in Davao City on the first
day of the strike.
Acoording to reports, Ricardo Baron of the Tranmision-Piston said that the transport strike will paralyze up to
90% of transportation in Davao.
To help stranded passengers, Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte said that they will be deploying buses to
assist passengers.
“Let us all take this opportunity to observe the streets with less jeepneys and more buses as envisioned in the
High Priority Bus system project for the Dabawenyos,” the Davao City mayor said in a post on her Facebook
page.
Davao City Mayor Inday Sara Duterte also reminded the public that “crimes committed during the strike will
not be tolerated,” encouraging protesters to be peaceful during their protest action. – Rappler.com
Marcos Hi-way PUJs rerouted due to LRT-2 works
Jovic Yee / Philippine Daily Inquirer / 05:02 AM October 18, 2017
The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) will implement starting today a traffic
rerouting scheme for public utility jeepneys (PUJs) plying Marcos Highway to help ease congestion in the area
where two malls are located and construction of a rail extension project is in progress.
Jeepneys going to Antipolo City and Cainta in Rizal province will no longer be allowed to pass through
the portion of Marcos Highway where the Emerald station of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) 2 is being constructed.
They would have to turn right to an access road leading to a parking lot owned by Robinsons Metro
East. Those going to Antipolo can then turn left to the Marcos Highway exit, just after the LRT construction
area. The same exit is also the designated loading and unloading area for jeepneys. For jeepneys headed to
Cainta, they can bypass Marcos Highway by driving straight to Felix Avenue.
The scheme be implemented from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., according to Jojo Garcia, the MMDA assistant
general manager for planning. Additional traffic enforcers will be deployed.
This particular section of Marcos Highway has become a choke point, with the queue usually extending all the
way to Marikina.
Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/938759/marcos-hi-way-pujs-rerouted-due-to-lrt-2-

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Palace backs carpooling, working from home to ease traffic

Natashya Gutierrez / Published 4:50 PM, February 18, 2014

Coloma also said there is still a need to review the proposals.

The proposals may be adapted, but not immediately, Coloma said.

 value of time lost due to delay

Improving mass transit

Jayson R. Biadog, Technical Support. Flexible work schedule for employees.

Read more: http://business.inquirer.net/214172/dealing-with-traffic-working-people-speak-

Tugade estimated the losses in 2016 to be up to P3 billion a day.

Evidence for induced demand

Lessening our dependence on cars

Conclusion: More roads will never be enough

 Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA)

'Not a miracle vs traffic'

Officials and numbers say otherwise, however.

Urgency has come

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/922467/heavy-traffic-on-commonwealth-avenue-as-

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/926282/ph-to-ink-deal-with-singapore-on-solving-

Patience will be a must this holiday season for shoppers.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/927928/mmda-not-keen-on-traffic-easing-measures-for-

But Abella said traffic laws do not exempt anyone.

"Law is law and it shoud be blind to all," he said.

But not all lawmakers agree with Fariñas' suggestion.

Indonesia traffic jam forces president to walk instead

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/936351/mmda-metro-manila-malls-metro-manila-

Patience will be a must this holiday season for shoppers.

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/927928/mmda-not-keen-on-traffic-easing-measures-for-

Rappler Talk: Solutions to Metro Manila traffic and road

Read more: http://newsinfo.inquirer.net/938759/marcos-hi-way-pujs-rerouted-due-to-lrt-2-

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