Aliza Arcilla | The Capitol Posted on November 30, 2022 | 2:00 PM
The public transport system in the Philippines is taking away our dreams and opportunities.
Metro Manila, the capital of the country, was ranked 5th among the world’s cities with the worst public transportation system in the Urban Mobility Readiness Index 2022 report. The think tank study is based on factors such as commute speed, affordability, and waiting time. Manila is falling behind in those aspects and there is no denying that.
Just imagine the everyday scenarios of commuters. You will wake up early at 4:00 am to get ready for work that will start at 8 am. When you reach the terminals, you have to stand in queues that almost took a lifetime before you can ride the vehicle of your choice. Whether it is LRT/MRT or buses, there is no guarantee that you can comfortably sit after hours of waiting. You have to squeeze yourself among the commuters standing, not minding the social distancing protocols. And when you leave your workplace at 5 pm, you have to relive the same process again, and finally be home by 9 pm, or worse later than that.
There is so much time robbed by the poor transit system. The time employees could have spent relaxing, or doing their side hustles. The time parents could have spent to attend to their children, and teach them their assignment. The time students could have spent studying, and learning new hobbies. The time we could have used in chasing opportunities and fulfilling our dreams. And worse, we are forced to endure and adjust with the long commutes and congested traffic.
The government's response
Over the past decades, the government has been trying to solve this problem through spending the 99 % of the P2.8 trillion budget on infrastructure projects including the "Build build build" program imposed by the Duterte administration that is now being adapted by the Marcos Jr. administration. Those projects focus on building and rehabilitating roads, however, this approach doesn't lessen the burden of daily commuters because only 2% of the budget has been allocated to public transport investments, Move As One Coalition says.
Moreover, the UP School of Urban and Regional Planning study shows that 70% of people rely on public transport but they only occupy 22% of road space. While only 30% of people rely on private vehicles, the government continues to invest in a car-centric method - building more roads that only benefits the higher class. This system reflects the disparity between the rich and the poor. Some can just comfortably sit in their owned cars, while others wedge themselves in overcrowded buses.
Breaking the wheel
Traffic is an underlying problem in the Philippines, and what makes it worse is the way the government resolves it. Widening of roads is futile if the public vehicles do not run there. Long queues will remain if public vehicles remain insufficient.
To make a safer transportation system, the government must invest in enhancing the public vehicles operations: from tricycles and jeepneys, to buses and railways. Privatization of mass transit results in competition, and higher fares. Companies end up capitalizing from the public needs. The government can render a more humane procedure by granting union rights to drivers and improving facilities such as terminals, and sidewalks, if they control the majority of public transit. If public transportation is more accessible and efficient, people would opt to use it more. Thus, reducing the number of cars on the road.
Creating a more comfortable space will make a huge difference in commuters’ daily lives. It will not only improve the traffic, but also save the people from being stuck in the system that is holding back their progress.
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