Senate urged to probe Metro Manila traffic mess

MANILA, Philippines - Citing the losses in the economy worth billions of pesos, Senator Ralph Recto pushed for a congressional inquiry on the worsening traffic congestion in the country, particularly in Metro Manila.

Recto urged the Senate Committee on Public Services to investigate the supposed comprehensive traffic program of the government aimed at easing vehicular gridlocks in major urban centers.

"The Senate inquiry would determine if such traffic management plan would actually ease congestion in major urban centers and speed up the safe and efficient movement of people and goods," Recto said in filing Senate Resolution No. 5.

Recto stressed that "precious man-hours and resources are being wasted every minute" due to "monstrous traffic jams" that have reached critical level.

The senator cited a United States study, which revealed that the Philippine economy loses about $3.6 billion or P153 billion a year because of traffic congestion, particularly in Metro Manila.

It was noted that of the $3.6 billion, $1 billion is lost in wasted gasoline, electricity, man-hours and hiring of traffic aides, while the remaining $2.6 billion represents losses from reduced sales and investment disincentives.

"The traffic bottlenecks are becoming a travel bane that adversely impact on the economy and also on the general well-being of Filipinos," the senator stressed.

Recto stressed the traffic solution should consider the increasing number of vehicles on the road, the kilometers of new roads and bridges that were built, and the increasing population.

"There is now one motor vehicle for every 14 Filipinos with 7 million roaring machines cramming our streets. And every hour, about one kilometer of road must be built or repaved to accommodate the 47 new vehicles, which are registered during the same hour," he said.

Recto cited the need to draft a traffic decongestion roadmap that would outline a comprehensive solution to the traffic mess at least until 2016.

Recto said the Senate inquiry should "focus on the capacity of concerned agencies to execute the roadmap and devise ways for its successful implementation and ensure the efficient, safe and fast transport of people and products from one destination to another."