The Department of Transportation (DOTr) is eager to accelerate road transport infrastructure projects to ease traffic situation in the country, particularly in Metro Manila.
DOTr Sec. Jaime Bautista said on Friday, Jan. 19, that ongoing road projects "are directed at improving commuter experience while addressing worsening traffic in highly urbanized areas."
"We will fast track road projects while collaborating with appropriate agencies with the help of the private sector," he said.
Bautista's remarks came as Metro Manila topped the list of metro areas with the worst traffic in the world in 2023, based on the results of a traffic index released by transportation data company TomTom Traffic. It described a metro area as "a circle covering the city and rural areas in close proximity."
According to the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index, a 10 kilometer-drive in Metro Manila will take 25 minutes and 30 seconds, which is the worst among 387 metro areas across 55 countries on six continents. This is 50 seconds slower than the record it had in 2022.
Metro Manila surpassed Lima, Peru (24 min, 20 sec); Bengaluru India (23 min, 50 sec); Sapporo, Japan (23 min, 30 sec); and Bogota, Colombia (23 min, 30 sec).
The report said that the worst day to travel in Metro Manila last year was on December 15, a Friday, with the average travel time to drive for 10 km measured at 31 min and 50 sec.
For Bautista, he considers the report as a "challenge" for the DOTr and other concerned agencies.
"The top ranking of Metro Manila in world traffic poses a challenge not just for DOTr but other agencies as well to be creative at finding lasting solutions to metro traffic," he said.