After a 2023 study named Metro Manila’s traffic as the worst traffic among 387 metro areas globally, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it will implement comprehensive traffic management interventions.

Metro Manila topped the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index ranking of metro regions with the slowest travel times, out of 387 cities across 55 countries.

MMDA acting Chairperson Don Artes said their plans include deploying covers to deter onlookers from slowing down to document accidents, studying proposed EDSA elevated walkways, and recommending subway or underground construction for future trains.

In addition, he said ongoing interventions by the agency involve improvements in the MMDA Communications and Command Center, JICA-funded enhancements in Metro Manila intersections, the Intelligent Transport System (ITS), and regular clearing operations conducted by the Special Operations Group-Strike Force.

"Kami po ay gagawa ng paraan, magtutulong-tulong kami ng iba’t ibang ahensiya ng pamahalaan para i-address ito at huwag nang mag-worsen, at eventually, mabawasan (We will find solutions, collaborate with various government agencies to address this and prevent it from worsening, and ultimately reduce it),” Artes said.

The MMDA chief stressed the need for citizen cooperation to ease traffic, emphasizing the importance of discipline on the roads.

Meanwhile, Artes expressed the MMDA's intention to contact the creators of the TomTom Traffic Index to inquire about the study's methodologies, emphasizing the importance of understanding factors such as the actual count and timing of the study.

He pointed out discrepancies in the study's findings, specifically citing Quezon Avenue as the busiest street according to the report, while MMDA's data indicates EDSA as the primary traffic hotspot.

Metro Manila’s traffic conundrum

According to the MMDA chief, Metro Manila has exceeded its carrying capacity for vehicles since it has 3.6 million vehicles on a 5,000-kilometer road network.

“In EDSA alone, there are 400,000 plus vehicles traversing the highway daily but its carrying capacity is only for 300,000 vehicles," he noted.

Moreover, he identified various factors contributing to the traffic conundrum, including vehicle volume, lane blockages, road repairs, ongoing infrastructure projects, and the suspension of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP).

Artes delved into the intricate issues, attributing lane blockages to illegal parking, structures hindering lanes, and vehicles near school premises, often exacerbated during vehicular accidents.

He also cited a JICA-funded study, the Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan, which revealed that a 30-minute roadway incident leads to a 2.5-kilometer traffic backlog, taking approximately 42 minutes to clear.

The MMDA chief highlighted specific areas with challenging road configurations, citing NAIA-X ramps in front of NAIA Terminal 3, and C-5 Kalayaan Avenue. 

As such, he said that the temporary restraining order on the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) contributed to increased traffic congestion, with recorded apprehensions rising from 761 on the day of the policy's suspension to thousands per month last year.