Metro Manila traffic ranked among 10 worst in world

MANILA, Philippines – Manila ranked 10th on a list of cities with the worst traffic in the world, according to a website that collates global information on cost of living, crime rate and pollution.

Numbeo, which released a study on traffic based on a “Time Index,” placed Mumbai, India first on the list with a score of 66.18.

Numbeo computed the average time spent by a commuter on a one-way trip.

In the case of Mumbai, a commuter has to sit for over an hour to get to destination, it reported.

On the list, Mumbai was followed by Nairobi, Kenya with time index score of 65.20; Pune, India with 60.86; and Tehran, Iran, 59.84.

Rounding up the top 10 are: Miami, Florida (59.20); Cairo, Egypt (58.61); Kolkata, India (58); Recife, Brazil (57.85); and Petronia, South Africa (52.25).

Other factors considered in the study were poor traffic laws and driving attitudes.

Last year, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) reported that traffic in the Philippines cost P2.4 billion daily to the economy.

A study conducted by JICA warned that by 2030, the Philippines would lose P6 billion daily due to traffic.

Heavy traffic is not limited to Metro Manila, especially during holidays, it said.

It noted that during Christmas and All Saints’ Day, traffic is at a standstill as people leave and come to Manila to make their way home.

Heavy rains and flooding are another cause of traffic both inside and outside Metro Manila, the agency reported.