MANILA, Philippines — A study by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) that showed Metro Manila being the most congested city in Asia will “awaken” those planning to move there, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Friday.
“It will awaken us, in some way, lalo na ho yung mga kababayan natin na pilit naman na naghahanap ng oportunidad dito sa Metro Manila,” MMDA Spokesperson Celine Pialago said in a Radyo Inquirer interview.
(It will awaken us, in some way, especially for our countrymen who want to look for an opportunity here in Metro Manila.)
“Syempre, nandito ho yung mas malawakang opportunity, eh napaka congested na ho ng area na ito,” Pialago added.
(Of course, we know that opportunity is here, but this area is already congested.)
According to the ADB study, Metro Manila is the most congested natural city out of 278 cities in Asia.
The study also showed that commuters in Metro Manila could not even take public transportation for a substantial portion of their commute, and that travel by public transport takes thrice as long compared with using private vehicles.
With this, Pialago warned those who still plan to move to the metro to face the reality of the city.
“So kung kayo ho ay hindi taga-Metro Manila, number one, at gugustuhin niyo ho manirahan dito, you have to face this with your [eyes wide] open na congested ho yung city na gusto nilang puntahan,” the MMDA spokesperson said.
(So if you are not from Metro Manila, number one, and you want to live here, you have to face this with your eyes wide open that the city they want to go is already congested.)
Pialago added that the agency is also not discrediting the study, adding: “In fact, pinapatotohanan pa natin ‘yun with the figures that we have right now.”
(In fact, we are affirming it with the figures that we have right now.)
“At yung mga figures po na ‘yun ay mga numbers na hindi magsisinungaling,” she added.
(And those figures are numbers that do not lie.) /muf