MMDA, NGAs, LGUs Approve Five-Year Action Plan to Ease Manila’s Traffic

As economic opportunities draw more visitors to Metro Manila, especially as businesses operate in the new normal and Christmas holidays are fast approaching, traffic congestion is reaching its pre-pandemic levels. Or even worse.

To solve this, representatives from the Manila Development Authority (MMDA), local government units (LGUs), and national government agencies (NGAs) responsible for managing Metro Manila traffic have declared to work together by implementing a five-year action plan to ease congestion in the capital.

“As the project ends, the next step is to implement the plan. Continuous coordination, role-sharing, funding, monitoring, and evaluation—these are critical matters that must be addressed,” MMDA Acting Chairman Romando Artes said during the last Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting for the Comprehensive Traffic Management Plan (CTMP) for Metro Manila, which is being funded by Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The action plan involves 12 strategies to improve traffic management, particularly the signal systems and the 42 traffic bottlenecks that the CTMP has identified. Other strategies include enhancing the intelligent transportation system (ITS), improving traffic corridors, developing a comprehensive traffic management database, and strengthening traffic regulations, enforcement, and road safety.

No specific timeline has been disclosed about the plan as of date.