Nation

Commuter group backs moving air and seaports out of NCR

August 24, 2016 | 6:15pm

MANILA, Philippines -- A commuter group has voiced support for plans to relocate the airport and seaports away from Metro Manila, one of the proposals being eyed to relieve traffic congestion.

According to the National Center for Commuter Safety and Protection (NCCSP), the proposal would be most beneficial for 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," said Elvira Medina, NCCSP president.

"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) had five recommendations for the decongestion of Metro Manila’s roads.

Among the proposed mid-term solutions to the Metro’s traffic problem is the relocation of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport and transferring cargo shiiping from the Manila North Harbor to Batangas.

Traffic choke points

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority earlier identified several traffic choke points across the metropolis as it also expressed support for the granting of emergency powers on President Duterte for a speedy solution of the worsening traffic situation.

Among the choke points tagged by the MMDA are those along EDSA (Balintawak Market Road, Aurora Boulevard, Ortigas Avenue, Shaw Boulevard, Guadalupe, Ayala Avenue and Taft Avenue.)

Manila North Harbor Area (Circumferential Road - 3 or C-3 Road, A. Mabini Street, Dagat-Dagatan Avenue, North Bay Boulevard and Radial Road 10 or R-10).
Southern Metro Manila (roads leading to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals, particularly the Airport Road, Domestic Road, Andrews Avenue, Tramo Avenue, Sucat Avenue and Sales Road; and Alabang-Zapote Road and Circulo del Mundo Avenue.)
Northern Metro Manila (Rizal Avenue, Samson Road, Gen. Malvar Street, McArthur Highway, Karuhatan Road, Gen. De Leon, Pio Valenzuela and Gen. De Jesus.)
Eastern Metro Manila (Santolan, Gil Fernando Bridge, Marcos Hiway, San Juan Intersection, Pasig Intersection and Meralco Avenue.)
Quezon City (Boni Serrano Avenue, Araneta Avenue, Timog Avenue, E. Rodriguez Avenue, Katipunan Avenue, C.P. Garcia Avenue, Magsaysay Avenue, Capitol Intersection, Luzon flyover, J.P. Rizal, Ayala Heights Rotunda, Miriam gate and the Ateneo gate.)
Manila (Bonifacio Drive, Roxas Boulevard, Espana
Boulevard, Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Jose Abad Santos Avenue, Claro M. Recto Avenue, Sen. Osmena Highway and Rizal Avenue or Carriedo.)

The JICA study proposed a restudy of the gateway airport options for Metro Manila, the feasibility of a Mega-Manila Subway System, a reform of the road-based public transport system, feasibility of secondary mass transport system lines and a redevelopment of the congested Manila North Harbor.

The JICA study also 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 Development Authority (NEDA)-Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC) approved the P374 billion subway project from Fort Bonifacio to the Mall of Asia in the reclamation area along Manila Bay based on the JICA proposal.