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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider New MMDA chair seeks to change PH image of having the worst traffic in Southeast Asia

New MMDA chair seeks to change PH image of having the worst traffic in Southeast Asia

Published Jan 12, 2021 11:41 am

Newly-appointed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chairman Benhur Abalos seeks to improve the traffic situation in Metro Manila by building more roads and opening up interconnecting roads such as the Skyway Stage 3.

(JANSEN ROMERO / MANILA BULLETIN)

“For the past several days, you’ve noticed that traffic flow is much smoother. That’s because we partially opened part of this interconnecting road,” Abalos told CNN Philippines in an interview Tuesday.

Abalos said that the best way to address the traffic situation is to “build more roads.”

According to the global database Numbeo, the Philippines has the worst traffic in South East Asia (SEA). In its Traffic Index by Country 2020 Mid-Year report, Numbeo reported that the Philippines recorded a 198.33 score in traffic index, the highest among the six SEA countries included in the list.

Following the Philippines in the list were Indonesia with a 195.80 traffic index score, and Thailand with 172.00.

The Philippines also ranked fifth among 29 Asian countries and ninth among 81 countries worldwide.

Traffic index is defined by Numbeo as “a composite index of time consumed in traffic due to job commute, estimation of time consumption dissatisfaction, CO2 consumption estimation in traffic and overall inefficiencies in the traffic system.”

The country scored 44.60 for “Time Index” or the average one-way time needed to transport in minutes; 3299.10 for time consumption dissatisfaction or “Time Exp. Index”; 246.25 for “Ineffiencey Index,” and 6497.08 for CO2 Emission Index.

The new MMDA chairman also plans to build elevated pedestrian lanes in EDSA and is also looking into the possibility of putting up bike lanes in the main metro thoroughfare.

Abalos said he will also be discussing with the Department of Transportation other ways to improve the EDSA bus lanes.

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