Group: Metro Manila traffic costs P140-B, bigger than corruption losses

MANILA, Philippines - The country is losing P140 billion every year due to traffic jams in Metro Manila, according to a new multisectoral group advocating road discipline.

Brian Galagnara, president of the group The Red Advocates, cited two separate studies that quantified the financial impact of traffic in Metro Manila: a 1999 research by the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) and a 2011 study by the University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Studies.

“The findings of these studies are essentially the same. They peg the losses due to traffic at approximately P140 billion,” Galagnara said.

“These are losses that should immediately be addressed because traffic is getting worse by the day due to our inaction," he added.

Galagarna said direct losses are attributed to wasted gasoline, lost labor hours, employment of traffic aides and wasted electricity.

On the other hand, the indirect losses refer to withdrawal of potential foreign investments, missed business opportunities and reduced capital inflow.

Galagnara's group said the cost of the traffic in Metro Manila is bigger than the losses in public funds due to the alleged controversial pork barrel scam.

“We share the country’s concern with the rampant misuse of public funds and understand why corruption is at center stage these days,” he said.'

“But after seeing the success of concerned citizens and collective action in the abolition of the pork barrel, we feel it is time to mobilize efforts to address a problem that has an even greater negative economic impact than corruption: traffic.”

He said like corruption, traffic affects everyone, regardless of economic status.

Galagnara said his group would focus on doable solutions that would involve the participation of everyone.

He stressed the need for road discipline and respect among traffic enforcers, drivers and commuters.

"We know that we have too many cars and not enough roads, but what makes thing worse is our lack of discipline on the roads, a lack of respect for each other,” Galagnara said.