Group backs moving air, sea ports out of Metro Manila

MANILA, Philippines – A commuters’ group has expressed support for plans to relocate the airport and seaports away from Metro Manila to relieve traffic congestion.

According to the National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection (NCCSP), the proposal would benefit air travelers.

“You will no longer be harassed by traffic as you will no longer have to go through Metro Manila from one end to the other just to catch your flight,” Elvira Medina, NCCSP president, said recently.

“There is no denying that our roads in Metro Manila and even in neighboring provinces are too congested now,” she added.

A 2014 study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has recommended five proposals for the decongestion of Metro Manila’s roads.

Among the proposed mid-term solutions to the metropolis’ traffic problem is relocating the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and shifting cargo movements from Manila North Harbor to Batangas.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) earlier identified several traffic chokepoints in the metropolis as it also expressed support for granting emergency powers to President Duterte to address the traffic problem.

The JICA study estimated a productivity loss of around P2.4 billion a day or more than P800 billion a year from the daily traffic congestion.

JICA also proposed the connection of the Metro’s different central business district by a subway system.

Last January, the National Economic and Development Authority Investment Coordinating Committee approved a P374-billion subway project from Fort Bonifacio to the Mall of Asia based on the JICA proposal.