IN THE KNOW: Traffic congestion in Metro Manila

The Philippines has been losing billions of pesos due to traffic congestion over the years.

In August last year, a study by the University of the Philippines National Center for Transportation Study (UP NCTS) placed the average annual losses incurred due to traffic congestion in Metro Manila at over P137 billion as of 2011. The study noted that the country has lost more than P1.5 trillion since 2001 due to traffic, which has led to loss of productivity.

Earlier in 1999, studies by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) and the Department of Transportation and Communication placed annual losses due to traffic in Metro Manila at P140 billion.

Of this figure, P40 billion went to direct losses, such as wasted gasoline, lost labor hours, employment of traffic aides, and wasted electricity, while P100 billion went to indirect losses, like missed business opportunities and reduced capital inflow due to investors shying away from the country, among others.

At the time, the Jica study said that the average speed of vehicles was 12.6 kilometers per hour, and identified the following main reasons for the traffic: Bad driving habits, inadequate traffic enforcement, and poorly coordinated infrastructure projects. Kate Pedroso, Inquirer Research

Sources: ncts.upd.edu.ph, Inquirer Archives