THIS month, mobility got a lot worse for hundreds of thousands of Metro Manila commuters who use the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx). The construction of the Skyway Extension and its related lane closures resulted in much heavier traffic in and around the Alabang area. Car trips from Alabang into Makati required two or three hours, instead of the usual one.
But the impact was worse for those relying on public transport. Southbound buses on SLEx were denied the option of using the Skyway and were forced to join the huge traffic bottleneck on the ground. With longer travel times, buses racked up fewer round trips and carried fewer passengers. Social media was flooded with complaints from commuters in long queues or unable to find rides.