By Christopher Lloyd T. Caliwan
MANILA, Aug, 23 (PNA) — The National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA) released early approval of Metro Manila’s road map for transport infrastructure development until 2030, to guide and address the worsening traffic problem in Metro Manila.
“As early as 2014, inaprubahan ng NEDA board yung road map for transport infrastructure development for Metro Manila, ibig sabihin ito yung magiging gabay ng administrasyon at mga susunod na administrasyin kung anong gagawin sa NCR hanggang year 2030,”MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said on Sunday during the weekly agnecy’s radio program.
Tolentino said the roadmap consist of upgrading urban roads, expressways, urban/suburban rails, road-based public transport, and traffic management.
He added part of the Roadmap is the construction of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) elevated expressway and the 14 km Skyway 3 project.
He said in order to address the traffic problem, Metro Manila still needs an intercity expressway of 426 km. until 2030 and also needs urban and suburban railways of six main lines with 246 km. and five secondary lines with 72 km., respectively.
“I think the implementation of the road map is the right step in the right direction kaya lang hindi naman ito overnight. Matagal tagal yung first phase ay kung saan dun naman yung integrated bus terminal sa FTI so hindi natin masasabi na bukas tapos na ito dahi ang haba ng growth, regrowth, ungrowth. We just have to wait sa implementation,” Tolentino explained.
For his part, Mico Dizon, MMDA planning officer, said the government is also planning to put up a subway or the Mass Transit System Loop.
Dizon said with the subway it aims to improve inter-city linkage by providing a higher capacity public transportation system.
He noted the subway will start at San Jose del Monte, Bulacan and ends in Dasmariñas, Cavite traversing the major business districts of Metro Manila.
He added the study is ongoing and if it will be approved, it will be implemented in 2017.
Last year, Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) released a video presentation of the “Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Its Surrounding Areas” (Infra Roadmap for Mega Manila).
The roadmap study was conducted in response to the request by NEDA in order to formulate a comprehensive transport roadmap towards 2030.
The roadmap defines “Mega Manila” as Metro Manila, Bulacan, Rizal, Cavite and Laguna, which are the main focus in this study.
The transport roadmap emphasizes the need to establish better north-south connectivity and appropriate hierarchy of different transportation modes such as roads, railways, and other mass transits. This forms the Dream Plan to have a modern, affordable and a well-coordinated and integrated transport system for Mega-Manila by 2030.
The roadmap also aims to realize five NOs: 1. “NO traffic congestion”, 2. “NO household living in high hazard risk areas”, 3. “NO barrier for seamless mobility”, 4. “NO excessive transport cost burden for low-income groups”, 5. “NO air pollution”.
JICA Philippines Chief Representative Noriaki Niwa emphasized that the roadmap is important to make Metro Manila a globally competitive and environmentally sustainable city.
Program officer Patrick San Juan said the roadmap study was conducted in close coordination with JICA, NEDA, MMDA, DOTC, Department of Public Works and Highways, and relevant stakeholders and other related agencies. (PNA)