ACADEMICIANS from the University of the Philippines called on the national government to consolidate governance on public transportation and adopt inclusivity by including small operators and commuters in the modernization of the sector.
In a recent study, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) estimated pre-pandemic traffic congestion costs the Philippines approximately $25 billion per year or almost P 1.4 trillion, over 25 percent of the 2022 national budget.
In a policy paper authored by UP professors, the study noted different administrations have attempted to solve the traffic problem with modicum success. The study proposes an option of creation of a unified public transport authority that would do away with the “labyrinth of government,” leading to inconsistent policies and programs.
Cresencio M. Montalbo, University of the Philippines School of Urban and Regional Planning Professor, urged the Marcos administration to form a single entity for the planning and operations and monitoring of public transports. Today, however, he points out that the public transportation system is composed of at least eight agencies: the Department of Transportation (DOTr); Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB); Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG); and, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).
The study warned the traffic situation will be exacerbated if the country opens up its streets. In 2021, a TomTom International B.V. Traffic Index showed Metro Manila was the 18th-most congested city in the world and 6th-most congested city in Asia with a 43-percent congestion level.
The index ranks urban congestion worldwide and provides free access to city-by-city information covering 404 cities across 58 countries on six continents. The Amsterdam-based company said that 43-percent average congestion level means that on average, travel times were 43-percent longer than during the baseline non-congested conditions.
Involvement, e-vehicles
FOR UP National College of Public Administration and Governance Professor Noriel Christopher C. Tiglao, modernizing the country’s transportation system goes beyond replacing archaic vehicles. Tiglao said it needs to involve bus and jeepney operators, drivers and commuters whose livelihood and incomes are affected.
Moreover, he said there is a need to review and continuously take stock of the stakeholders’ responses and even the commuters’ responses to the policy performance of the public utility vehicle modernization program (PUVMP).
As part of the efforts of the UP Covid-19 Pandemic Response Team, UP Diliman built a mobile app called ‘Safe Travel PH,” Tiglao noted. He said this app helps users “to see the road and traffic incidence real-time.”
The users are also “able to see the public transport utility vehicles and the estimated travel time and their occupancies.” The app also helps commuters report road and traffic incidents related to lockdown.
Meanwhile, UP Electrical and Electronics Engineering Institute Professor Lew Andrew Tria said it is high time the Philippines should also think about going electric and start replacing conventional vehicles, especially in public transportation. Tria urged the government to take a serious look what several countries in phasing out conventional or internal combustion engine vehicles.
“In some countries, they’re already targeting 2030 or even 2040 that they will go full electric. If we don’t think about going electric, we might be the last country to still use conventional vehicles (ICE) vehicles, and the danger of that is there will be no suppliers for us for these conventional vehicles, and we might end up with just surplus or old vehicles coming from other countries,” Tria explained.