Senator Joseph Victor Ejercito is pushing for long-term solutions to the “hellish” traffic conditions in Metro Manila and other urban centers.
He cited the need to prioritize transportation projects like railways that would efficiently move goods and people while occupying less space.
“I have been vocal in sharing my advocacy of upgrading the railways across the country, particularly of the Philippine National Railways [PNR] in the last five years,” said Ejercito.
“Unfortunately, the same traffic and transport concerns that we had in 2010 when I was still a member of the House of Representatives remain unresolved up to this day, and the situation is much more aggravated,” he said.
“Now, traffic costs us at least P3 billion daily,” lamented Ejercito, vice chairperson of the Senate Public Services Committee.
One of the earliest measures he filed was Senate Bill No. 154 which seeks to grant special powers to the President to address the transportation crisis.
The senator also filed Senate Resolution No. 63 to probe air traffic congestion at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, while pushing for measures like the Philipine National Railways Modernization Act and the Train Protection Act.
Ejercito said his “Transportation Crisis Act of 2016” bill seeks to reorganize the country’s transportation sector in the long run through a comprehensive road map which shall reform national public transportation to ensure an efficient, sustainable, safe, clean and integrated air, land and sea transportation system.
“I believe there is no other way than the railway system (to) address the traffic congestion and hasten the movement of goods and shipments from Metro Manila to other areas,” said Ejercito.
He cited Singapore’s success with its own railway system which he wants to see replicated in the Philippines.
Ejercito pointed out the pressing need to rehabilitate the trains, upgrade the service and operations, fix other infrastructures and facilities such as elevators, escalators and washrooms; and to provide for additional wagons for the MRT, LRT, and PNR.
“The new administration also needs to give priority over major infrastructure projects such as the North-South Railway Project, and the Mindanao Railway Project,” he said.