Marcos: Gov't fast-tracking PH mass transit system to address traffic

The Philippine government is fast-tracking the mass transit system in the country to address traffic problems, President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. assured the public on Wednesday. 

Marcos made the remark as he graced the public consultation dubbed as ''Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Concerns'' in San Juan City. 

''Ang tanging sagot dito ay talaga ay mga mass transit system kaya 'yun ang aming minamadali. 'Yun ang aming gagawing priority, hanggang ngayon ay priority-- sa mga imprastraktura kontra sa trapiko,'' Marcos said during the open forum. 

(The solution is the mass transit system which is now being fast-tracked. We've made it a priority... to build infrastructure that will ease traffic.) 

''Talagang ito ay minamadali natin dahil nababanggit nga na napakalaki ang sagabal sa progreso natin itong traffic, hindi lamang sa oras na nasasayang, sa gasolina na nasasayang sa kakaantay na ura-urada sa daan, at 'yung gastos ng ating mga commuter,'' he added.

(We are trying to hurry the projects because traffic has been affecting the nation's progress. It wastes time, fuel, and money.) 

'Very forward thinking'

In his separate speech, Marcos said the government should be ''very forward thinking'' when it comes to urban planning in relation to decongesting the metro. 

''You are going to live with those infrastructure projects for 80 years on average. Kaya’t we have to be thinking–very forward thinking in our planning–our city planning. How do we decongest?'' Marcos said.

''What will be the increase? Where do we plan to put the new manufacturing centers? Where are we going–how do we service our eco-source? All of these have to be taken into account and Manila–Metro Manila is still at the center of all our economic activity,'' he added. 

The President said the government should understand how to solve the problem of traffic as it is so multi-faceted. 

''It is so complicated. There are so many stakeholders but nonetheless, it is a job that we have to do,'' Marcos said. 

''We have to coordinate. We have to listen to all the stakeholders, the LGUs, the operators and drivers, the traffic enforcers, the infrastructures, the economic development, the transport systems. All of these have to come together. Otherwise, hindi talaga mangyayari. Mahihirapan pa rin tayo,'' he added.

Earlier, the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) also disclosed several infrastructure projects aimed at easing traffic congestion and improving mobility in Metro Manila and their current status. —VAL, GMA Integrated News