Real Talk
How Metro Manila Traffic Affects All Families
Traffic has been an issue in the Philippines for so long. But why is that?
We’ve heard time and again in the headlines how bad traffic in Metro Manila is. Attempts have been made to ease the traffic—from number schemes to proposed laws, but it always ends up as a band-aid solution rather than a practical one.
Recently, the TomTom Traffic Index released its 2023 report, noting that Metro Manila has one of the slowest travel times at 27 minutes and 30 seconds. The report isn’t new to many Filipinos, but admittedly, it’s a wake-up call that there’s so much to be done to address the ongoing traffic issue.
Why does the issue of traffic matter to families?
“Time is gold” has been said so many times, especially for working people, and even more so for parents! After all, moms and dads balance work with taking their kids to school, among other activities. It should not take two hours to take their children to school when the school is just 20 minutes away from home.
On that same note, it should not take working parents two or three hours to get to work when their office building can be accessed in at least 30 to 40 minutes. Traffic takes up a lot of time, and it can be an inconvenience to be stuck in it. No one should get up early at 4:30 am just to make it to a 7:30 am class. Rest is still important, after all.
Traffic should not get in the way of everyday life—that much is certain. But unfortunately, it does because of the long wait time just to get to work, school, or even home.
No more band-aid solutions!
Many Filipinos have explored alternatives to get to their respective destinations on time while factoring in the time spent stuck in traffic. Some bike to work, while others commute. But transportation in the country also has its fair share of problems. Long lines in the bus and the MRT or LRT stations are common occurrences.
And again, this should not be the case.
Traffic is common but it should not be a hassle for families. Proper infrastructure and transportation are needed to ease the burden of travel time. No more band-aid solutions. It should not take a singer of an international group to point out the traffic for people to move. It should be an initiative that should be taken seriously not just by citizens, but by the people elected to help.
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