How the DPWH helped make us the global leader in traffic

WITH the Philippines as the global leader in traffic, it is important to trace our path to this shameful pinnacle. One reason is that road space has been claimed and preserved for cars, leaving very little for sidewalks, bike lanes, roadside trees and dedicated public transportation lanes. In this column, I discuss how the planning and budgeting system of the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is marching all of us relentlessly toward a more car-dependent future by systematically prioritizing all existing and future road space for private motor vehicles.

When Filipinos travel to the best cities abroad, they realize that what is considered normal in many other countries — convenient, reliable and safe travel options without having to use a private motor vehicle — is largely missing in the Philippines. In those livable cities, what is prioritized are the needs of people on foot, on bicycles or using public transport. Sidewalks are smooth, spacious and free of obstructions; wide, well-marked bike lanes prevent motor vehicles from mixing in the same space as cyclists; and there are exclusive lanes for buses so that higher capacity public transport can move many more people faster, without friction with private vehicles.