Can schools bring better mobility?

ROAD congestion around schools is getting worse, affecting not only the school community and students' families but also surrounding neighborhoods. In the cities of Mandaluyong and San Juan, there is the daily traffic ordeal along Ortigas Avenue, linked to the pickup and drop off of students at De La Salle Greenhills, Xavier School and Immaculate Conception Academy. In Muntinlupa, some roads are choked by vehicles getting in and out of San Beda College Alabang. In Quezon City, there is the continuing traffic nightmare along Katipunan Road. Congestion inside Ateneo's Loyola Heights campus has gotten so bad that exiting the school in a car after dropping off a student can take 30 to 40 minutes. You can find similar examples in every major city in the Philippines.

With more vehicles stuck in traffic around schools, the persons most at risk are the students who are exposed to higher concentrations of particulate matter and other toxic emissions that can affect a child's health and lead to serious illnesses. Students who walk or cycle to school are also exposed to the heat and noise from motor vehicles. And this is harmful exposure day in and day out while a child attends school.