By Argyll Cyrus Geducos
President Rodrigo Duterte said he approached neighboring countries as he deemed that the “horrendous” traffic situation in the metropolis cannot be solved by the Philippine government alone.
This came after Malacañang expressed that there is a solution to the worsening traffic condition in Metro Manila.
Duterte, in a speech in Clark, Pampanga, noted that the traffic congestion in Metro Manila is due to the lack of infrastructure for mobility.
“Traffic is really horrendous. We are living in a horrendous life. Unless relief can come somewhere else, we are stuck with it,” Duterte said.
“Ang kulang lang natin (What we lack ) is the infrastructure for mobility. But in due time, I think in the fullness of God’s time, we will have it,” he added.
“I hope it would come even half of what they have offered so far. Kahit kalahati lang sana (Even just half will do),” he continued, referring to the investment on infrastructure pledged by Japan and China.
According to Duterte, he opted to approach other countries because he believes that the Philippines cannot solve this particular problem on its own.
“I went to China, started to move around and then to Japan and Korea. ‘Yan ang ginawa ko. Pero kung sabihin mo na mag-asa pa ako sa tayo-tayo, mahirap (That’s what I did. Because if you tell me that we can do it alone, that’s difficult),” he said.
“Well, then we continue to suffer until such time that Japan or China, whoever gets there first to build the [infrastructures]—and if we have the financing, then we can move,” he added.
According to Duterte, building infrastructure, including the expansion of highways, and improving the mass transport system, is one of the solutions to address the problem.
“But I think the most practical thing to do is really [improve] the mass transport system. And many are willing. It’s only a matter of the grid,” he said.
Malacañang earlier said that there is a solution to Metro Manila’s traffic gridlock.
This after transport network company Uber said that Metro Manila will be on a standstill in the next five years.
“We accept that challenge, if that was what Uber stated, we will prove – with the right political will – we will have a solution to traffic,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
‘Manila cannot be saved’
Meanwhile, Duterte said he is looking into spreading the industries in other key cities in the country as he deemed that Metro Manila will be beyond salvation in at least 10 years.
“Manila, I think, will be in about 25 years, will be a dead city. It will start to decay and there is that we can rehab the place,” he said.
According to the President, the only way to save the metropolis is to start from scratch. However, he said there’s no more time for that.
“You cannot rehabilitate the place. You have to — baklasin mo ang Maynila (dismantle Manila) to do that and there’s no more time and space for all of you who want to do something about it,” Duterte said.
“You have to disperse the crowd, limit the factories at some time in the future. But about 10 years from now, they should close Manila and start to develop,” he added, referring to other areas such as Clark, Pampanga.
“So Manila is no longer an option for industries. They have to go to the provinces,” he continued.
In a bid to decongest the metropolis and create alternative hubs, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) relocated its main office from Mandaluyong to Clark, Pampanga last July, 2017.
According to the DOTr, the move aims to help decongest traffic in Metro Manila, reduce travel time, improve travel of motorists,and boost development in “the peripheries of the National Capital Region.”
Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Vince Dizon earlier said that more government agencies will follow the move of the DOTr.
“Slowly we will be moving key government offices from Metro Manila to Clark,” Dizon had said last April.
President Rodrigo Duterte said he approached neighboring countries as he deemed that the “horrendous” traffic situation in the metropolis cannot be solved by the Philippine government alone.
This came after Malacañang expressed that there is a solution to the worsening traffic condition in Metro Manila.
Duterte, in a speech in Clark, Pampanga, noted that the traffic congestion in Metro Manila is due to the lack of infrastructure for mobility.
“Traffic is really horrendous. We are living in a horrendous life. Unless relief can come somewhere else, we are stuck with it,” Duterte said.
“Ang kulang lang natin (What we lack ) is the infrastructure for mobility. But in due time, I think in the fullness of God’s time, we will have it,” he added.
“I hope it would come even half of what they have offered so far. Kahit kalahati lang sana (Even just half will do),” he continued, referring to the investment on infrastructure pledged by Japan and China.
According to Duterte, he opted to approach other countries because he believes that the Philippines cannot solve this particular problem on its own.
“I went to China, started to move around and then to Japan and Korea. ‘Yan ang ginawa ko. Pero kung sabihin mo na mag-asa pa ako sa tayo-tayo, mahirap (That’s what I did. Because if you tell me that we can do it alone, that’s difficult),” he said.
“Well, then we continue to suffer until such time that Japan or China, whoever gets there first to build the [infrastructures]—and if we have the financing, then we can move,” he added.
According to Duterte, building infrastructure, including the expansion of highways, and improving the mass transport system, is one of the solutions to address the problem.
“But I think the most practical thing to do is really [improve] the mass transport system. And many are willing. It’s only a matter of the grid,” he said.
Malacañang earlier said that there is a solution to Metro Manila’s traffic gridlock.
This after transport network company Uber said that Metro Manila will be on a standstill in the next five years.
“We accept that challenge, if that was what Uber stated, we will prove – with the right political will – we will have a solution to traffic,” Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque said.
‘Manila cannot be saved’
Meanwhile, Duterte said he is looking into spreading the industries in other key cities in the country as he deemed that Metro Manila will be beyond salvation in at least 10 years.
“Manila, I think, will be in about 25 years, will be a dead city. It will start to decay and there is that we can rehab the place,” he said.
According to the President, the only way to save the metropolis is to start from scratch. However, he said there’s no more time for that.
“You cannot rehabilitate the place. You have to — baklasin mo ang Maynila (dismantle Manila) to do that and there’s no more time and space for all of you who want to do something about it,” Duterte said.
“You have to disperse the crowd, limit the factories at some time in the future. But about 10 years from now, they should close Manila and start to develop,” he added, referring to other areas such as Clark, Pampanga.
“So Manila is no longer an option for industries. They have to go to the provinces,” he continued.
In a bid to decongest the metropolis and create alternative hubs, the Department of Transportation (DOTr) relocated its main office from Mandaluyong to Clark, Pampanga last July, 2017.
According to the DOTr, the move aims to help decongest traffic in Metro Manila, reduce travel time, improve travel of motorists,and boost development in “the peripheries of the National Capital Region.”
Bases Conversion and Development Authority president Vince Dizon earlier said that more government agencies will follow the move of the DOTr.
“Slowly we will be moving key government offices from Metro Manila to Clark,” Dizon had said last April.
