Senator Bong Go has expressed his deep concern on the issue of heavy traffic and the need to enhance the public transportation system in the country, especially in the already dense Metro Manila areas.
Go cited the need for great political will to address the issue through effective solutions that focus on the best interest of the people.
“The country is losing billions of pesos every day because of the heavy traffic in Metro Manila.”
During the joint public hearing conducted by the Senate Committee on Public Services with the Civil Service, Government Reorganization and Professional Regulation, and Finance Committees, the legislator said in his statement that “there is definitely a need to address the heavy economic and social damage brought about by the dreadful Metro Manila traffic.”
As the vice chair of the Committee on Finance, the lawmaker lamented that the country is losing billions of pesos every day because of the heavy traffic in Metro Manila. The senator also expressed his concern on how the government can solve these in order to lessen economic losses.
“Noong 2018 po lamang ay lumabas sa balita ang pahayag ng Japan International Cooperation Agency o ng JICA na mahigit P3.5 bilyon ang daily losses na ating natamo sa taong 2017 dahil traffic sa Metro Manila,” the senator explained.
With seventeen highly urbanized cities and a municipality, and an estimated population of thirteen million based on the 2015 Census of Population, he emphasized the need for great political will wherein transport needs of the people must be constantly met and provided as soon as possible as population in the metro is increasing.
“We must always place the best interests of the people in mind, for they are the reason that we are taking these steps in the first place,” Go said.
“The issue of road obstruction has recently been one of the most violated traffic laws.”
In the hearing, he mentioned that there are a lot of factors that contribute to the growing traffic problem.
“Hindi lang po volume ng cars ang problemang ating hinaharap. Halimbawa na rito ang issue ng road obstruction, that has recently been one of the most violated traffic laws,” Go said.
He also asked the members of the different government transportation agencies present in the public hearing about updates on the train cars that were ordered to be built and used immediately on the metro’s train system.
“More than half na po ang termino ni PRRD, ano na po ang update sa mga trains na ginagawa natin?” Go asked and stressed that these train systems can be upgraded to the faster ones.
He noted that he supports the goal of the committee which is to ensure the viability and connectivity of the integrated transport terminals, to ultimately encourage people to use public transport.
“Ang goal po nating lahat ay magkaroon tayo ng magandang public transport system, nang sa gayon ay maka-contribute sa solusyon sa matindi at lalong lumalala na traffic, while taking into consideration the best interests of our commuters,” Go explained.