Business groups back MAP proposals on easing Metro Manila’s traffic woes

MANILA, Philippines - Local business groups and foreign chambers are backing the solutions being offered to the government by the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) in helping solve the traffic and transportation problems besetting Metro Manila.

Among the business groups which have expressed support to the MAP’s recommendations in addressing the transportation issues in Metro Manila are the Makati Business Club (MBC), the Financial Executives Institute of the Philippines (Finex) and the Joint Foreign Chambers (JFC).

“(We expressed our) support and admiration for your comprehensive recommendations to resolve the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila. Your commendable initiative demonstrates how collaboration and leadership in business contributes practical solutions to social problems with severe public consequences,” the JFC said in a letter addressed to MAP.

The MAP late last month came out with specific recommendations for immediate and long term action to ease the ongoing traffic problems in Metro Manila.

One of the immediate actions the MAP is pushing for is the appointment of a traffic czar to show “who is in charge and take overall charge of all matters related to or affecting traffic and road management.”

It also suggested the fast-tracking of the upgrade and capacity expansion of the MRT-3 as well as the upgrading into expressways of the existing major national roads.

The MAP is also campaigning for the improvement in the resiliency of all national major and radial roads against floods, the use of fast construction methods to eliminate traffic-disrupting intersections on major roads, and creation of a campaign for private vehicle high occupancy practices.

“This initiative is an outstanding example of how business managers can apply their experience and talent towards finding practical and effective solutions to issues of major concern,” MBC chairman Ramon del Rosario Jr. said.

“We fully support this initiative,” Finex president Jimmy Ysmael added.

So far, the group’s suggestion to assign and deputize a specially-trained highway patrol group within the Philippine National Police has already been implemented by the government.