Traffic congestion in Metro Manila has worsened partly due to on-going road projects targeted to ease travel not only in Metro Manila but in CALABARZON and Central Luzon.
Thus, Communications Secretary Sonny Coloma Jr., appealed to the public to have patience as these infrastructure projects is targeted to have long-term gains.
Among the on-going infrastructure projects, which are targeted to be finished this year and in 2017, are the Metro Manila Skyway Stage 3, the NAIA Expressway Phase II, and the LRT Line 2 East Extension, which lengthens the line from Santolan in Pasig to Masinag in Antipolo.
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Other projects that are on different stages of implementation are the Php 1.27-billion vehicle underpass along Sen.Gil Puyat-Paseo de Roxas, and the Php 4.01-billion Metro Manila Interchange Phase IV Project, a three-grade separated interchanges at 1.) Edsa-North Avenue-West Avenue-Mindanao Avenue; 2.) C-5 Road-Greenmeadows-Calle Indutria-Eastwood; and 3.) Edsa-Roosevelt Avenue-Congressional Avenue.
Also, the Cavite-Laguna Expressway project, the Laguna lakeshore development project, the NLEX-SLEX connector road project, the North-South commuter railway project, LRT line 4 and 6 projects, and the bus rapid transit project from Quezon City memorial circle to manila city hall.
Coloma said some of these projects have hurdled issues like right-of-way acquisition and have passed stringent feasibility studies.
“Nauunawaan natin ‘yang concern na ‘yan pero unawain din natin na matinding technical feasibility study ang kinakailangan sa bawat project. Hindi simple ‘yung mga proyektong ‘yan, ‘yung mga interchange. Iyong mga infrastructure projects na nabanggit natin require detailed technical feasibility studies na hindi naman puwedeng matapos overnight kahit na inumpisahan ‘nung 2010, “ Coloma said.
He said implementation of traffic-related projects that have short-term effects is not the real solution given the ballooning population.
“Hindi kasi uubra ‘yung instant lamang o ‘yung immediate projects. Dahil nga lumalaki ang populasyon natin at dahil nahuli tayo doon sa paglalatag ng mga kinakailangang imprastruktura na hindi nakasabay sa paglago ng populasyon, ay kinakailangang ilatag itong mahahalagang infrastructure projects,” He added.
