It is disappointing and unsettling to hear MMDA’s proposals to address traffic congestion, which bears an economic cost of about P3.5 billion a day. We say disappointing because the proposals sound limited in scope, focusing mainly on reducing the number of vehicles on roads. We added unsettling because the proposals sound shallow and unimaginative, suggesting that a solution may not come soon. Without an effective remedy, the estimated cost of this problem may balloon to P5.4 billion a day by 2035, according to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
First, having too many cars is only part of the problem. Recently, the proposal being tested is aimed at reducing the number of buses that ply EDSA, the main thoroughfare that cuts across the metropolis. The idea has been slammed for being anti-poor, which may be a fair point. Buses and other means of public transport typically cater to poorer commuters. Those who can afford to enjoy the comfort of riding in their own private vehicles.
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