By Jelly F. Musico
MANILA, Aug. 31 (PNA) – Senator Juan Edgarco ‘Sonny’ Angara on Monday urged government authorities to immediately address the worsening traffic conditions in Metro Manila as studies have shown that Filipino workers not only waste time in traffic but also a quarter of their salaries.
According to a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), traffic congestion cost the country Php2.4 billion every day in 2012.
“Traffic jams are mostly concentrated here in Metro Manila which has a population of 20 million,” Angara said.
”The minimum wage of the workers is only Php481 and 25 percent of Php125 is consumed for transportation. Pagod na sila sa trabaho, pagod pa sila sa trapiko,” Angara said.
The lawmaker further urged the government to come up more with a long-term infrastructure and transport plan to address worsening traffic in the country.
“There must be discipline and order especially in our public transport system,” he pointed out.
“Traffic definitely has a negative impact on the productivity of our workers and our economy. It’s a result of lack of foresight and planning from our agencies who are tasked to manage transport and traffic amid car sales surge in the country right now,” he added. (PNA)