Businessmen pushing for holistic traffic management plan

MANILA, Philippines — Businesses is urging the Department of Transportation (DOTr) to implement a holistic traffic management plan to provide soonest relief to commuters and motorists.

In a meeting with DOTr officials led by Secretary Jaime Bautista, the Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) discussed the proposed to address traffic congestion in the metropolis.

“The MAP Holistic Plan to address the severe traffic congestion in Metro Manila was subject of an in-depth and constructive discussion in a meeting between a DOTr team of 15 officials and the MAP Transportation and Infrastructure Committee (TIC) 15-person counterpart team led by MAP president Rene Almendras and TIC chairman Eduardo Yap,” the group said in a statement.

The MAP’s holistic plan includes comprehensive short-term administrative and traffic management measures to achieve the soonest relief to commuters and motorists.

For permanent and long-term sustainability, the plan includes medium and long-term measures centered on mass public transportation to move people, not private vehicles, in accordance with the National Transport Plan of 2017 of the National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA).

“Secretary Bautista demonstrated a clear understanding and keen appreciation of the Metro Manila traffic problem and the heavy damage it is causing to the national economy and society, and the urgent need for a comprehensive plan of action,” the MAP said.

In January, the MAP released its recommendations to address the traffic crisis in Metro Manila, such as the implementation of a holistic plan and the appointment of a traffic czar by the President.

“This traffic crisis is highly detrimental to the people and the economy. No effort must be spared to expeditiously provide relief to our people and economy. The crisis can be mitigated with strong political will, competent management with resolute short, medium and long-term measures,” the MAP said.

According to the group, having the worst traffic in the world is affirmation of a known fact that has greatly cost the economy and damaged the welfare of the people.

 “The MAP, being the proponent of the Busway solution to the severe public bus transportation problem in EDSA, believes that the traffic crisis is not insurmountable. But there is no single silver bullet to slay this traffic monster, rather a holistic approach to this crisis is essential,” it said.

The group also called for the declaration of a traffic crisis and the appointment of a new traffic management team to be headed by a traffic czar appointed by the President and vested with full powers and authority to mobilize, direct and deploy existing relevant resources of the government, both national and local, during the exigency of this crisis.

 It is also recommending Metro Manila to be organized into four traffic management zones to be headed by a qualified zone traffic manager who shall be responsible for traffic management in their respective zone, and report and be accountable to the traffic czar.

In terms of traffic management, the business group wants the Mabuhay Lanes revived and optimized as alternate routes to relieve traffic congestion along major routes, such as EDSA, C4 and C5 radial roads.

Other traffic management recommendations include clearing the lanes by disallowing parking during designated peak traffic hours in the morning and evening, subject to towing and impounding of violating vehicles; revising the direction of traffic flows along Metro Manila streets to minimize traffic conflicts at intersections by limiting left turns and crossings; disallowing U-turns, except only in suitable locations; create quick reaction force to clear choke points; require high-passenger occupancy vehicle practices in high-density zones, such as schools and large event venues; require off-street drop-off and boarding lanes; and strictly enforce no parking, no loading and unloading rules along major routes where schools are located. 

The MAP also highlighted the importance of the EDSA Busway system, stressing that it has been proven as the most cost-effective urban mass transit system.