P1.5T lost to traffic jams in 10 years — NCTS study

The Philippines lost P1.513 trillion in the 10 years to 2011, thanks to traffic congestion, particularly during the rainy season, a study by the National Center for Transportation Studies (NCTS) showed, computing the fuel costs and potential man-hour lost while stuck in traffic.

 

According to the study, the possible additional costs from fuel add up to P4.212 billion a year, plus the time wasted which could have been spent for production, trade and business, the average annual cost of traffic congestion in the National Capital Region is P137.519 billion. 

 

Thus, the cumulative cost of 10 years of traffic in the Philippines has amounted to P1.513 trillion.

 

For vehicles plying the notorious EDSA (Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue) daily, the cost is palpable. 

 

Two hours in traffic consumes a lot of gasoline, according to a truck driver interviewed Wednesday on GMA News TV’s “News to Go.”  

 

“You can't turn the engine off because, if you do that, water will flow back into the muffler and get you stalled in traffic,” he added.

 

Students whose classes were canceled in anticipation of heavy floods and rains also said that while they appreciated the suspension, they know they would have catch up with school work later on.

 

“Syempre ma-di-delay din yung klase so maghahabol din kami,” said Arvin Cobbarubias in the same News To Go report.

 

For Melissa Pascual, getting stuck in traffic until late at night wastes precious time she could have used for doing school work.

 

“It was really traffic and hindi umaandar yung mga kotse. Minsan inaabot ako ng 12 midnight kakahintay ng masasakyan,” she said.

 

The Department of Transportation and Communication noted its commitment to resolve the worsening traffic situation in the country.

 

The NCTS study noted several proposals from the DOTC that will cost around P200 billion, including zeroing in on improving the public railway systems to lessen the need for commuters to rely on their vehicles. — Patricia Denise Chiu/VS, GMA News