A study by the Asian Development Bank ranked Metro Manila as the most congested city out of 278 Asian cities with a population of more than 5 million. The study further stated that “lack of efficient and affordable public transportation” is a contributing factor to congestion. Currently, the Philippines loses ₱3.5 billion a day due to traffic congestion in Metro Manila–this number is expected to rise as much as ₱5.4 billion by year 2035 if no intervention is done by the government; On average Filipinos lose 9-15 years of their life sitting in traffic.

With the facts presented above, it is clear—lack of efficient and affordable public transport not only compounds congestion problems, it also costs the country money and it is vexatious to commuters who lose a good chunk of their lives in traffic.

The Commission, alarmed by the increasing incidence of congestion, thereby urges the government to act quickly and reminds duty-bearers that the right to work is inextricably tied with internal freedom of movement. Acceptance and recognition of the problem is the first step towards its rectification. Constant denial of problems, despite evidence to the contrary, does nothing to help alleviate the plight of Filipino commuters. If anything, it only serves to make a mockery out of the travail Filipino commuters face on a daily basis. Inaction in the face of massive and widespread congestion throughout the Metro impinges not only on the physical and mental health of commuters, who stand for long hours on end while anxiously waiting for a ride to work (or home), but also hampers the deliverance of basic social services—such as the right to health through speedy and adequate access to medical care in cases of medical emergencies necessitating the use of an ambulance.

While the Commission recognizes the initiatives of the government to alleviate congestion problems through infrastructure development in its Build, Build, Build program, it is hopeful that this government would also do its best to ensure the continued development and maintenance of more efficient public transport system.###