Entering the new year were several news items of note on traffic and transport, reminding us once more that indeed the holidays are over and hitting the roads would again be a major undertaking for everyone. Back to the real world, indeed.
Immediately catching everyone’s attention were the fireworks coming from the motorcycle taxi ride- sharing sector. Starting last year on shaky grounds as a pilot program since Philippine laws do not allow two-wheeled vehicles as a mode of public transport, the number of motorcycle taxis grew exponentially in a matter of months, creating its own niche in the local transport universe. Beginning this year, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board granted the extension of the pilot program with Angkas, the company that started it all, but now with two other participants—JoyRide and Move It, to share its cap and the market. This started a series of events, evolving into so many side issues that until now has yet to cease. There were allegations of influence-peddling by national politicians in behalf of the new players; of foreign ownership and the many violations of Angkas, the issuance of a temporary restraining order on the LTFRB decision, etc.—all these in a span of not more than three weeks of the new year. No matter the outcome, it seems that the two-wheeled ride- sharing phenomenon has made its mark in our public transport landscape, highlighting the unserved commuter demand that now need a concrete response from our policy-makers beyond the present laws of the land.
There were other news greeting us at the start of the year, thankfully, a series of good news on transport and traffic, giving us a renewed hope that all of these will be fixed in our lifetime.
This begins with the pronouncement of Public Works Secretary Mark Villar that traffic congestion in Metro Manila—especially in Edsa—will improve by 20 percent to 30 percent this first and second quarters, and stretched to 40 percent by next year. Calling it a one-two punch, Villar said this can be attributed to the completion of the Skyway Stage 3 project of San Miguel Corp. by April, and the Metro Pacific Tollways Corp.’s Nlex Harbor Link Segment 10 extension project that is expected to open by March.
Also of note were the news on the approval by the Neda-ICC in January 2020 of several major infrastructure projects that will soon commence construction, among which are: The Metro Rail Transit 4 running the eastern corridor between Ortigas Center and Taytay, Rizal; the much delayed Edsa Greenways Project; the Bataan-Cavite Interlink Bridge Project; the fourth Cebu-Mactan coastal bypass roads in Cebu; Davao City Coastal Bypass Road; and the Panay-Guimaras-Negros Island Bridges Project, soon to be the country’s longest bridge. All these mega projects are to be initiated within the remaining term of President Duterte, with their operability being targeted within his term, as well.
It will definitely be an active year. There will be a lot of traffic concerns, such as the ones of Angkas that will hopefully be resolved, while new ones will definitely crop up. There will be a lot of projects that will be completed and many will also be started—the new rail projects, many repairs, rehabilitations of our rail systems, the new airports and seaports, the many traffic management systems, as well as the other numerous projects of the Department of Transportation, the Department of Public Works and Highways, and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority. The PUVM will be in its third year and the MVIS—the roadworthiness testing of the Land Transportation Office—will break ground this quarter.
But it is good that we see much activity—whether good now or good in the long term, as we hit the beginning of the year. This indicates that we are not stagnant or caught trapped in our traffic and transport dilemma.
So, let us fasten our seat belts. It will still be a bumpy and slow ride, but we are definitely getting to a better traffic and transport place in our lives.
Thomas Tim Orbos was former DOTr undersecretary for roads and general manager of the MMDA. He is currently undertaking further studies at the McCourt School of Public Policy of Georgetown University. He can be reached via e-mail at thomas_orbos@sloan.mit.edu