Metro Manila —The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE), a Singapore government agency, signed yesterday, 31 August 2017, a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to formalize their commitment to collaborate in areas of traffic management policies and solutions, leading to the development of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) for Metro Manila.
The MOU was signed between Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and SCE Chief Executive Officer Kong Wy Mun, and was witnessed by Singapore’s Ambassador to the Philippines Her Excellency Kok Li Peng, Centre Director for Manila and Second Secretary of International Enterprise Singapore Darren Lee, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim, and Transportation Undersecretary for Road Transport Thomas Orbos.
In his speech, DOTr Secretary Tugade thanked the Singapore government and SCE for helping in the initiatives of the Philippine government to develop an ITS to address traffic woes in Metro Manila, as well as help alleviate the problem of pollution.
“The DOTr, as well as this whole country, recognize and welcome innovation and technology. We embrace technology because we know that technology is the path to development and growth in these modern times,” the transportation chief said.
Tugade, however, pointed out that all the transport stakeholders should act on the MOU for it to become a reality.
“Signing a document is one thing, but giving life to that document is another,” Tugade added.
For his part, SCE CEO Wy Mun is keen to embark on this collaboration with the Philippine government, which will include developing traffic policies and recommending tailored-fit infrastructure to help resolve traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
“SCE is privileged to partner with the Philippines’ Department of Transport to offer Singapore’s experience and solutions in the areas of traffic management policies and systems. Through this collaboration, we believe it would be the right direction towards improving traffic conditions in Manila, as well as strengthen ties between our countries,” he said.
Under the MOU framework, SCE will aggregate its expertise and integrate solutions from Singapore’s public and private sectors, and work closely with DOTr.
It will involve the sharing of Singapore’s experience in traffic policies and systems and the possible introduction and implementation of an Intelligent Transport System (ITS) in Metro Manila.
The MOU includes recommending suitable traffic management policies to help in the implementation of the ITS; enforcement of various traffic control systems, congestion management system, enforcement systems, travel advisory systems, surveillance systems, incident management systems etc. in order to manage Metro Manila traffic in an effective and efficient manner.
The ITS solution will take a comprehensive and holistic approach involving policy alignment, regulation changes, capacity building, engineering know-how build up, including the setting up of a centralized traffic and incident management system to increase operation efficiency and ease traffic conditions.
The ITS solution shall be composed of a Master Plan Study and Design, Integrated Traffic Management, Congestion Management, Enforcement Management; and Enhancement of Traffic Management.
It will likewise involve early detection of traffic incidents to reduce impact and mitigate recurring congestions, decrease of traffic delay, reduced fuel costs and environmental pollution; and enhanced safety for road users and provision of a better travelling experience for commuters. | DOTr-PR
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