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Transportation in Metro Manila

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An American trolley in a Manila street, 1905

The transportation system in Metro Manila is currently inadequate to accommodate the mobility and other basic needs of a densely populated metropolis, the result of many factors and problems that the government has failed to provide or address. Metro Manila exists in a state of near-permanent gridlock, with people and goods trapped by the very system that is supposed to move them quickly and efficiently.[1] Because of the insufficient public transportation network, car ownership has risen dramatically, contributing further to the congestion that occurs at all times of day on the road. Filipinos view cars as not just tools to get them to where they need to go; they also believe that their car is an important symbol of the success they have achieved in life.[2] In recent years, however, the Philippine government has been pushing to improve the mass transit system through various infrastructure projects,[3] hoping to solve the interlinked problems of transportation, land use and environment.[4]

The region offers various transportation options: light metro, rapid transit, commuter rail, bus, jeepney, UV Express and taxicab. The most famous of these modes is the public jeepney, which has been in use since the years immediately after World War II. Auto rickshaws (referred to as "tricycles" in the Philippines) and pedicabs are used for short distances. Because Metro Manila is one of the most heavily populated cities in the world, it is now served by rapid mass rail transit. More train lines are planned and under construction.

Infrastructure

The Epifanio De los Santos Avenue is the longest and most congested highway in the metropolis.

Roads

Main article: List of roads in Metro Manila

The existing main roads of Metro Manila are organized around a set of Radial and Circumferential roads established during the American period in the country's history. All radial roads originate from various points in the city of Manila and radiate south, east or north to the other cities in Metro Manila and end farther out into the Greater Manila Area and beyond. In a similar way, all C roads run in a half circle that begins and ends at Manila Bay, with Manila at the innermost circle.

The only major thoroughfare in Metro Manila not included in the arterial road system is Dr. Arcadio Santos Avenue (formerly Sucat Road) in Paranaque, designated as Highway N63

Expressways

Main article: Philippine expressway network
North Luzon Expressway
South Luzon Expressway

Expressways are controlled-access highways, with crossing traffic limited to overpasses, underpasses, and interchanges. Metro Manila is served by the North Luzon Expressway to the north and South Luzon Expressway to the south. Connecting the two is the Skyway, an elevated expressway that runs through the metropolis by going above the existing alignment of major thoroughfares in the region. Other expressways include the Muntinlupa–Cavite Expressway and the NAIA Expressway, with other expressways such as the Southeast Metro Manila Expressway,[5] C-5 South Link Expressway, C-5 Expressway, Pasig River Expressway, and the R-7 Expressway all in various stages of development and construction.

Bridges

See also: List of crossings of the Pasig River and List of crossings of the Marikina River

There are a total of 33 bridge spans in Metro Manila that cross the Pasig and Marikina rivers, including one tollway bridge and four railway bridges.

Public transportation

See also: Transportation in the Philippines

Manila, being a major city, offers various transportation options. The most famous of these modes is the public jeepney, which has been in use since the years immediately after World War II. Buses, air-conditioned metered taxis, and passenger vans (UV Express) are also popular forms of transportation. Tricycles (auto rickshaws) and pedicabs are used for short distances. In some areas, especially in Divisoria and large public markets, two-stroke motors are fitted in the pedicabs and are used for goods transport. Regardless of modernity, horse-drawn ‘’calesas’’ are still used in the streets of Binondo and Intramuros. Buses, taxis and trains are also other important means of public transportation in the metropolis. The metropolis is served by four train lines, the LRT Line 1, LRT Line 2, MRT Line 3 and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) Metro Commuter Line. More train lines are planned or under construction.

Grab operates in Metro Manila.[6]

Buses

Buses and jeepneys share Manila's roads.
See also: List of bus routes in Metro Manila

Aside from dilapidated jeepneys, public utility buses (PUBs) are the bane of Metro Manila's congested roads, due to their numbers, their sheer physical size, and the methods of bus drivers and conductors of loading and unloading passengers. On any given day, some 3 million vehicles pass Metro Manila's main circumferential artery, EDSA or C-4. Of the total, about 140,000 are buses, according to an article by the Philippine Center for Investigative Journalism (PCIJ).[7] "The boorish behavior of many public buses -- as well as the fact that far too many of them are on the road -- has gotten worse through the years." Figures from the LTFRB indicate that there are about 13,000 buses operating in Metro Manila run by 1,200 operators, about half of them using EDSA. In response to this, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ordered the removal of all provincial bus terminals along EDSA by 2019.[8] On June 1, 2020, MMDA instituted the EDSA Busway.

Manila has many metrobus companies such as Erjohn & Almark, Baclaran Metro Link and AC Trans. These use old Japanese buses (especially Isuzu or Nissan Diesel) converted to left-hand drive while the prevalence of surplus South Korean buses (like Daewoo and Kia) which are originally left hand is also popular nowadays. New buses on the other hand are also now popular with the influx of Chinese-made buses.

Franchised city buses are:

Bus rapid transit

The EDSA Busway, the first and only bus rapid transit (BRT) system existing in Metro Manila, starts from Monumento in Caloocan until Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX).

A planned introduction to the metropolis is the rapid bus transit (BRT), a system that makes use of a dedicated lane, buses with large traffic volume, suitable stations and employs intelligent transportation system. Several BRT lines have been discussed and proposed, all are pending approval.

  • Bonifacio Global City Bus[9]
  • C-5
  • Quezon Avenue to Manila City Hall

Point-to-point buses (express buses)

Main articles: Premium Point-to-Point Bus Service and List of express bus routes in Metro Manila

Express point-to-point buses provide non-stop or limited stop travel along Metro Manila. As of 2019, there are 52 points in the GCR served by P2P buses.[10] Majority of the routes are served by single decker buses with just two served by double deckers.

Jeepneys

A Jeepney in Manila.

Jeepneys are the most popular mode of public transportation in the Philippines, they have also become a ubiquitous symbol of the Philippine culture.[11] According to the Metro Manila Dream Plan report by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), a survey made in 2007 came out with 48,366 public utility jeepneys plying some 600 routes nationwide, with 61% serving the Greater Capital Region, which includes Metro Manila. In 2000, jeepneys and tricycles topped all modes of travel in Metro Manila at 46%, before light rail became popular, followed by buses at 24% and private vehicles at 21%.[12] At present, there are around 270,000 franchised jeepney units on the road across the country, with some 75,000 units in Metro Manila alone.[13]

In 2016, the Department of Transportation and Communications imposed an age limit on jeepneys of 15 years, with older jeepneys starting to be phased out.[14] Many jeepney operators oppose the phase-out,[15] and politicians urged the government to drop the jeepney modernization program.[16] As part of the PUV modernization program all new and existing vehicles must be fitted with a tap card system which allows commuters to pay for their trip.[17] The system would enable journey details to be recorded and the appropriate fare deducted from the stored value on the card.[18]

Rail transportation

LRT Line 2 (LRT-2) (left) and MRT Line 3 (MRT-3) (right)
Main article: Rail transportation in the Greater Manila Area
System map of the Metro Manila railway network (current as of July 2021)

Rail transportation in the Greater Manila Area is a major part of the transportation system in Metro Manila and its surrounding areas. It consists of the Manila Light Rail Transit System, Manila Metro Rail Transit System, and the PNR Metro Commuter Line. The network makes up the majority of active railways in the country and bear the brunt of providing the metropolis with rail as a faster alternative mode of transport other than buses and jeepneys. However, these systems are currently insufficient for the rapidly expanding metropolis; to address this, new lines and line extensions are under construction, which will extend the system far out into neighboring regions.[19]

While early rail systems have been operating in the region since 1883, the development of mass transit had its inception in the 1970 when the Philippine National Railways offered among its services the first Metro Commuter line. LRT Line 1, which is the first rail line operated by the Light Rail Transit Authority, a government corporation, opened in 1984, making it the first rapid rail transport in Southeast Asia. It was followed in 1999 by MRT Line 3 along EDSA operated by the private company, Metro Rail Transit Corporation, before LRT Line 2 was completed in 2003.

Intermodal terminals

Name Location Transfers Notes
Rail Other modes
Parañaque Integrated Terminal Exchange (PITX) Parañaque LRT Line 1

(Asia World station)

Bus, jeepney, taxi and UV Express Opened on November 5, 2018. Connection to LRT-1 under construction.
Taguig Integrated Terminal Exchange (TITX) Taguig Metro Manila Subway

(FTI station)

North–South Commuter Railway

(FTI station)

Bus, jeepney, taxi, and UV Express

Under construction
Valenzuela Gateway Complex (VGC) Valenzuela N/A Tricycles, buses, jeepneys and UV Express Opened on August 15, 2018.[20]
North Triangle Common Station Quezon City LRT Line 1

MRT Line 3

MRT Line 7

Metro Manila Subway

To be announced Area B completed, Areas A and C under construction.

Air transportation

Main articles: Air transportation in the Philippines and Airports in the Greater Manila Area

Airports

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport serves as the main airport of Metro Manila.

The Ninoy Aquino International Airport (IATA: MNL, ICAO: RPLL), is the main international gateway to the Philippines and Metro Manila. The airport is located between Pasay and Parañaque, about seven kilometers south of Manila city proper and southwest of Makati. It is managed by the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA), an attached agency of the Department of Transportation (DOTr).[21]

With a record-breaking 42-million people using the airport in 2017, NAIA has long breached the 30-million combined passenger capacity of its four terminals.[22] While numerous proposals from the private sector to expand NAIA have been put forward, none have been implemented.[22][23][24] There are also exploratory talks to transfer terminal assignments among airlines.[25]

Officially, NAIA is the only airport serving the Manila area. However, in practice, both NAIA and Clark International Airport, located in the Clark Freeport Zone in Pampanga, serve the Manila area, with Clark catering mostly to low-cost carriers because of its lower landing fees compared to those charged at NAIA. In 2018, Clark handled 2.6 million passengers, all the while undergoing expansion to bring capacity to 12 million with the addition of a second terminal to be finished by 2021.[26][27]

Proposed airports

See also: New Manila International Airport

In June 2014, JICA formally recommended the construction of a new airport in the vicinity of Sangley Point, Cavite City to replace the space-constricted NAIA. The recommendation involved the reclamation of Manila Bay to locate the new airport. This is contained in JICA's Metro Manila Dream Plan roadmap.

San Miguel Corporation, builders and concessionaires of the Manila Skyway and other infrastructure projects, submitted another unsolicited proposal in April 2018 to build an airport in northeast Manila Bay. In July 2019, the Swiss challenge period ended with no rival bids, and in September 2019 was given the Notice to Proceed from the Department of Transportation to build, operate and maintain the New Manila International Airport.[28] Pre-construction activities, including dredging of the rivers and canals leading to the site, began in October 2020. The first phase, consisting of two runways and the terminal buildings, is scheduled for completion by 2026.[29]

Water transportation

Seaports and piers

The Manila North Harbor.
Main article: Port of Manila

The Port of Manila, located in the vicinity of Manila Bay, is the chief seaport of the Philippines. It primarily serves the city's commercial needs. North Harbor and South Harbor experience busy periods during long holidays such as Holy Week, All Saints Day and the Christmas holidays.

Pasig River Ferry

Main article: Pasig River Ferry

The Pasig River Ferry Service operates 17 stations along the Pasig River from Plaza Mexico in Intramuros to Pasig. The ferry service is the only water-based transportation that cruised the Pasig River.

See also

References

  1. ^ "Dear President-elect Duterte: On solving the traffic crisis".
  2. ^ https://gdfi.com.ph/2018/10/25/car-ownership-philippines/
  3. ^ "Government keen on improving public transport system". Philstar. Retrieved 2013-01-30.
  4. ^ https://www.jica.go.jp/topics/news/2014/ku57pq00001nkatn-att/20140917_01_0rev20150206.pdf
  5. ^ "DOTr break ground on South East Metro Manila Expressway project". CNN Philippines. January 8, 2018. Retrieved January 18, 2018.
  6. ^ "Why GrabTaxi?". Grab.
  7. ^ http://pcij.org/stories/too-many-buses-too-many-agencies-clog-edsa/
  8. ^ "MMDA eyes total ban on provincial bus terminals along EDSA by January".
  9. ^ https://ppp.gov.ph/ppp_projects/bonifacio-global-city-brt/
  10. ^ https://p2pbus.ph/
  11. ^ Lema, Karen (2007-11-20). "Manila's jeepney pioneer fears the end of the road". Reuters. Retrieved 2008-02-27.
  12. ^ http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:22252/FULLTEXT01.pdf
  13. ^ Agaton, Casper Boongaling; Guno, Charmaine Samala; Villanueva, Resy Ordona; Villanueva, Riza Ordona (2019). "Diesel or Electric Jeepney? A Case Study of Transport Investment in the Philippines Using the Real Options Approach". World Electric Vehicle Journal. 10 (3): 51. doi:10.3390/wevj10030051.
  14. ^ Periabras, Rosalie C. (5 August 2015). "DOTC, PUJ operators tackle jeepney modernization". The Manila Times. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  15. ^ Badilla, Nielson S. (31 January 2016). "Groups to protest jeepney phaseout". The Manila Times. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  16. ^ De Vera, Ellalyn (17 April 2016). "LTFRB urged to shelve planned phaseout of traditional jeepneys". Manila Bulletin. Retrieved 26 April 2016.
  17. ^ "Can a 'tap card' payment system convince you to take jeepneys again?". Top Gear Philippines. Retrieved 17 April 2018.
  18. ^ PH, Carmudi. "DOTr launches PUV Modernization Expo". Yahoo News.
  19. ^ Times, The Manila (2021-03-09). "Praiseworthy progress in commuter rail infrastructure". The Manila Times. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  20. ^ Pateña, Aerol John (August 6, 2018). "Provincial buses may use Valenzuela terminal starting Aug. 15: MMDA". Philippine News Agency. Retrieved March 28, 2018.
  21. ^ "Creating the Manila International Airport Authority, Transferring Existing Assets of the Manila International Airport to the Authority, and Vesting the Authority with Power to Administer and Operate the Manila International Airport". Official Gazette of the Republic of the Philippines. Republic of the Philippines. Retrieved October 24, 2013.
  22. ^ a b Mateo, Jan Victor R. "Uncertain future: What's next for NAIA?". Philstar.com. Retrieved 2021-07-13.
  23. ^ Lopez, Melissa Luz. "Megawide GMR replaces NAIA Consortium in airport rehab project". CNN Philippines. Retrieved July 17, 2020.
  24. ^ Cabuenas, Jon Viktor D. (January 26, 2021). "Megawide officially loses NAIA rehab bid". GMA News Online. Retrieved June 3, 2021.
  25. ^ "No changes in NAIA terminal assignments for airlines by Aug. 31". 30 July 2018.
  26. ^ Rey, Aika (October 13, 2020). "Construction of new Clark airport terminal completed". Rappler. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  27. ^ Navales, Reynaldo G. (March 19, 2021). "New Clark airport terminal inauguration set on June 11". SunStar. Retrieved March 31, 2021.
  28. ^ Lopez, Melissa Luz (18 September 2019). "Bulacan airport deal signed, construction to start December". CNN Philippines. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
  29. ^ Gonzales, Iris (October 7, 2020). "SMC to start construction of Bulacan airport". The Philippine Star. Retrieved October 8, 2020.
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