Abaya told: Follow bishop, direct traffic

MANILA, Philippines - Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya should take the cue from Manila Archbishop Emeritus Gaudencio Cardinal Rosales, who did his part in untangling a traffic gridlock, lawmakers said yesterday.

Rosales set an example to lax and incompetent government officials when he went out of his way to direct traffic after coming from mass at the Padre Pio Shrine in Sto. Tomas, Batangas on Sunday, Leyte Rep. Ferdinand Martin Romualdez, leader of the independent bloc of the House of Representatives, said.

“The Cardinal’s move is a sign of our times – our people are fending for themselves, taking matters into their own hands, because of an absent and insensitive government,” Romualdez said.

He said Abaya is seldom seen in public and rarely explains what his department is doing to address the mass transportation problem, particularly in Metro Manila.

He added the few times Abaya spoke in public, he only showed how the administration treats ordinary people when he said being stuck in traffic jams is “not fatal.”

Romualdez said the traffic situation would worsen as the various infrastructure projects and major road works in Metro Manila will not be completed by the time the country hosts the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit in November.

Cavite Rep. Elpidio Barzaga Jr., a provincemate of Abaya, said Rosales’ actions were indeed “a bad sign,” but stressed the transportation secretary was doing his best to improve the traffic situation.

Economic losses to hit P6 B

Sen. Paolo Benigno Aquino IV yesterday warned that economic losses due to heavy traffic in Metro Manila could balloon to P6 billion a day by 2030 from the current P2.4 billion.

Aquino has filed a resolution seeking to review the existing Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development to formulate strategies and solutions to address the impact of the worsening traffic situation on the economy.

“Commuters as well as private vehicle owners suffer from traffic jams every day in Metro Manila,” Aquino said in his Senate Resolution No. 1532.

He cited a study entitled “Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Surrounding Areas” conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency in coordination with the Department of Transportation and Communications, Department of Public Works and Highways, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority and other relevant agencies.

The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) Board approved the roadmap on Sept. 2, 2014.

Based on the study’s analysis, Aquino said lower-income households would be the hardest hit when traffic congestion worsens by 2030 as they will spend no less than 20 percent of their income for transport.

“Without intervention, traffic demand will likely increase by 13 percent in 2030, and transport costs will be 2.5 percent higher,” he said.

Aquino said local government units must contribute to craft effective strategies and traffic management systems to improve traffic gridlocks in Metro Manila.

“The MMDA cannot solve the worsening traffic situation alone. The DPWH, Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulating Board and the private sector must also do their share in solving the dilemma,” he said.

Among the factors that contributed to the traffic congestion is the significant population increase in Metro Manila, which now stands at 16.5 million. – With Christina Mendez