The daily commute is a good barometer of the Filipinos’ well-being. What they experience in the everyday grind of earning a living depicts their endeavor to attain an ever greater measure of self-respect and dignity for themselves and their families.

President Ferdinand R. Marcos’ remarks during the groundbreaking ceremony of the two underground stations of the Metro Manila Subway Project (MMSP) in Bonifacio Global City in Taguig on Friday, Feb. 13 provide a good perspective for assessing the quality of life of Filipinos.

From current baselines, to what extent can the government enable them to achieve significant improvements?

According to the President: “Once the Metro Manila Subway becomes operational, Filipinos will no longer have to pass up opportunities because of traffic and commuting woes. Stressing that the decades-long traffic congestion and lack of public mass transportation in the metropolis have influenced Filipinos’ decisions—from choosing where to work or study to planning their lives—the President said many have declined promising offers and passed on their dreams because of the daily commute they have to endure.”

Indeed, traffic woes have a pervasive effect. “It influences where we work, where we study, and how we plan our lives," said the President, who vividly described the common tao’s predicament:

"Some students hesitate to enroll in their dream school because the commute will take two hours or more, one way. Others decline promising job offers because the cost of commuting to work will outweigh the salary and mean less time for family," he added.

Far be it for him to foreclose such possibilities, he emphasized government’s determination to reduce commute time from Valenzuela, the northernmost city of Metro Manila to Bonifacio Global City, from one and a half hours to just 29 minutes.

If this dream scenario is attained, then truly, there will be a vast improvement in quality of life.

From the present to the end of the current administration’s term in June 2028, only 30 months remain. Is this a realistic time frame within which Filipinos can reasonably expect a palpable improvement in their quality of life?

Last month, the Development Budget Coordination Committee (DBCC) made a forecast that the Philippine economy will grow from five percent to six percent; this is lower than its previous growth estimate from six percent to seven percent.

The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev), formerly NEDA, attributed the downgrade to “global trade uncertainties and the public works corruption scandal.” Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said the P6.793-trillion 2026 national budget will be able to help the government attain its modified growth targets for the Philippine economy.

As consumer spending has been the main driver of the country’s economic growth, it stands to reason that the citizenry’s morale and confidence in their government will have to be kept on an even keel, or raised to significantly higher levels.

Those old enough to remember could cite the country’s rebound in the post-EDSA period. They are also keenly aware of the seesawing levels of public confidence, depending on the quality of public governance. In turn, quality of governance is shaped by the profile of elected officials, both in the national and local spheres. Hence, the big question is: Will the Filipinos succeed in electing better leaders in the 2028 elections?