NEDA approves JICA transport infra plan

MANILA, Philippines - The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) has given its nod for a roadmap to reduce traffic congestion in Metro Manila, and reduce by half the average transport cost of commuters.

“The Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Its Surrounding Areas” is the result of a study conducted by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to reduce traffic congestion before it worsens by 2030.

President Aquino chairs the NEDA board, which is run on a daily basis by Socio-Economic Planning Secretary and NEDA director general Arsenio Balisacan.

The one-year study, which also covers parts of Regions 3 and 4-A, started in March 2013.

According to JICA, its recommendations would reduce the average transport fare of P42 by today’s commuters to P24 and travel time from 80 minutes per trip to 31 minutes.

The study shows that without public and private intervention, traffic costs will likely to increase to P6 billion a day, from the present amount of P2.4 billion.

Low-income households have to spend no less than 20 percent of their monthly household income for transport.

Without intervention, transport cost will be 2.5 times higher, according to the study.

Possible solutions

JICA Philippines senior representative Eigo Azukizawa said the study shows possible ideas, technologies, and strategies that can help the Philippines address traffic congestion and air pollution in Metro Manila.

He said JICA “hopes to work with the government in implementing some of these ideas to help improve mobility, and the quality of life of people in Metro Manila, and its surrounding areas.”

The roadmap recommends planned and guided urban expansion to adjoining provinces through an integrated public transport, affordable housing for low-income groups, retrofitting of existing urban areas in integration with public transport, expanding multi-modal public transport network, and strengthening traffic management systems.

One of the innovations proposed in the study was implementing a so-called “Intelligent Transport System” or ITS to maximize the city’s existing road capacity.

ITS includes better traffic engineering and management that requires geometric improvements, pedestrian facilities, traffic surveillance, accident prevention, traffic safety education, and traffic enforcement. An example of ITS, as discussed in the study, requires a signal control system, travel time prediction, road maintenance, intelligent parking, incident detection, and bus scheduling assistance, among others.