PH gov’t ‘looking into’ traffic, flood problem

By: Kristine Angeli Sabillo - 10 years ago

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. INQUIRER FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines – With heavy rains and floods leaving thousands of commuters stranded on Tuesday night, Malacañang assured the public that the traffic problem is being addressed.

“The current concern is really the traffic. We are looking into it (as well as) the floods,” Presidential Spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said during a Palace briefing on Wednesday.

He said the problem really needs to be studied as the government implements road improvement projects.

“Once you see all these road improvement projects being finalized, you will see an improvement in the waterway system and hopefully these floods will be minimized,” he added.

The Palace official said they understand the situation on the ground.

“We are solving it now, so that in the future we will be able to minimize all these inconveniences to the public,” he said, explaining that the Department of Public Works and Highways and the Metro Manila Development Authority are working together to address the situation.

However, he admitted that the construction of road improvement projects will also cause short-term traffic congestion.

“I know it’s difficult. None of us are spared, even government employees, government officials are also go through the same difficulties…We all would like to have a solution to all these concerns,” Lacierda said.

He assured the public that President Benigno Aquino III was aware of the problem.

“Every concern that we had facing the countrymen, we have always found solutions to that,” he said of the Aquino administration.

When it comes to the business sector, on the other hand, Lacierda said that traffic is not the only factor being considered by investors.

He said investors ultimately look at the business environment, the relevant laws and the return of investment for a particular country.