MANILA — The Management Association of the Philippines (MAP) has called on the government to address Metro Manila’s worsening traffic congestion with the “same intensity” as in dealing with the environmental decay of Boracay.
During the Arangkada Philippines Forum 2018 in Pasay City Wednesday, MAP President Ramoncito Fernandez said the business group appreciates the pace of implementation of infrastructure projects in the past two years. However, the government has to do it with “more vigor and political will”.
“The government needs to be ready and committed to address the challenges of implementing each infrastructure project. It has to do this with more vigor and political will. Perhaps, the same intensity as it is dealing with the current problem in Boracay,” Fernandez said, citing the demolition of illegal structures in Boracay Island.
While the government targets to ease the traffic congestion in the National Capital Region (NCR) by building more roads, bridges, and other infrastructure projects, these are also expected to worsen the traffic situation in Metro Manila, he noted.
The Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) is implementing the Traffic Decongestion Program by rolling out high standard highways and expressways, construction and widening of national roads and bridges, construction of by-passes and diversion roads, construction of flyovers, interchanges, and underpasses.
Major road and railway infrastructure projects that the government is currently implementing include the construction of the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3 and Metro Rail Transit Line 7, and the repair of the Old Sta. Mesa Bridge in Metro Manila and Estrella-Pantaleon Bridge in Makati City.
The DPWH is also set to repair the Guadalupe Bridge, a major infrastructure along Epifanio delos Santos Ave. (Edsa), by 2019.
Fernandez added that the government should also implement some “quick fix” solutions to Metro Manila’s traffic woes, which include clearing road obstructions along Mabuhay Lane, deploying more qualified traffic enforces, and installing more surveillance cameras in the streets.
“We do know the problem of traffic will not go away with these quick fixes. It must be complemented by accelerated construction of more elevated roads as well as access to metro express rails, and also bridges,” said Fernandez. (Kris Crismundo/PNA)
