Battling Congestion with Intelligent Transportation System 

During his Government Address on The Roads and Traffic Expo, Chairman Danilo Lim of Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) talked about the importance of transportation as one of the key sector in our fast growing economy.

Classified as a Mega City by the United Nation, Metro Manila with its 13 million populations and still growing is seen to worsen and affect the current transportation and road system. Based on the Department of Public Ways and Highways (DPWH), the road system in Metro Manila only increased 7% in the past 10 years, having only 1167km from 1087km back in 2008. In relation, the recent study conducted by the Asian Development Bank (ADB), Metro Manila ranked as the most congested city among the 278 developing cities in Asia. Placing first in the “Relative Congestion in ASEAN cities with populations greater than 5 Million” using the average of 1.24, Metro Manila get an average of 1.5.

To battle congestion and related transportation problems, the Philippine government in partnership with Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) came up with the Intelligent Transport System, a 5 year comprehensive traffic management plan that aims to complete the data driven analysis of the current traffic structure in Metro Manila with the goal to improve the mobility, connectivity, and safety of Filipinos.

JICA allocated 7% out of their USD 1 trillion outstanding loan for the Philippine alone. JICA and the Philippines currently have 27 ongoing projects totaling USD 15 Billion and 16 out of the 27 ongoing projects are related and allocated for transportation sector alone; with an estimate of amount of Php 375 Billion commitment.

With this assistance from JICA as well as the “Build Build Build” program by the current administration, MMDA Chairman Lim is positive they could “Battle” the Metro Manila congestion. – KJC

Government agencies provide continuous support for export development

Government agencies cited under Memorandum Circular (MC) No. 27 provide continuous support for export development to achieve the export target of $122B-$130B by year 2022 through the implementation of their Programs, Action Plans and Policies (PAPs).

The Departments of Trade & Industry, Foreign Affairs, Agriculture, Energy, Environment and Natural Resources, Health, Finance, Information and Communication Technology, Interior and Local Government, Public works and Highways, Transportation, Tourism, Labor and Employment, Science and Technology, TESDA, CHED, BSP and NEDA are mandated to strengthen the implementation of the Philippine Export Development Plan (PEDP) through MC No. 27.

The foregoing agencies are enjoined to submit to the Export Development Council (EDC) their PAPs aligned to the PEDP strategies in compliance to MC No. 62 “Approving the PEDP 2018-2022 and directing concerned agencies to ensure its implementation” as approved by the President on 26 June 2019.

In the recently convened PEDP Consultation Meeting with the 18 agencies, it was noted that accomplishments and initiatives from the said stakeholders will be reported to the exporting community and submitted to the President during the National Export Congress slated on 06 December 2019 at the Philippine International Convention Center. Said report is in compliance to the implementation of the PEDP 2018-2022.