Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. on Monday said the government remains committed to solve the traffic congestion in the National Capital Region (NCR).
“Determinado ang pamahalaan na gawin ang nararapat upang tumugon sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayang naninirahan at naghahanapbuhay sa NCR at kanugnog na rehiyon,” Coloma said in a statement. “Inaprubahan na ng NEDA (National Economic Development Authority) Board noon pang Hunyo 2014 at ipinapatupad na ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng Mega Manila Dream Plan o Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Its Surrounding Areas, including Calabarzon and Central Luzon.”
The Palace official said based on the recommendation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the roadmap hopes to solve traffic congestion, prevent households from living in hazardous conditions, remove barriers for seamless mobility, eliminate the excessive cost burden for low-income groups, and prevent air pollution.
Coloma was reacting to a report quoting an official of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AMCHAM) as saying that Metro Manila may become uninhabitable within four years due to the worsening traffic situation.
Senior advisor of AMCHAM, John Forbes, emphasized the need to immediately improve roads and infrastructure.
Forbes said Metro Manila is “at risk of becoming uninhabitable, as annual new car growth increases to 500,000 by 2020. While roads are being improved throughout the country, the National Capital Region urgently needs more limited access roads, especially skyways, and rail.”
He also suggested that aside from access roads, the new airport terminal in Clark should be built in the next two years with a non-stop fast train connector similar to Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Tokyo to improve traffic congestion. (PCOO/PND)
