INTRODUCTION

The heavy traffic in Metro Manila is not only caused by the lack of roads or the congestion of
buses in the National Capital Region. The stressful traffic jams are also due to many other
factors, such as the overpopulation of residents, congestion of private vehicles, inefficient
services of rail transportation, and the ineffective traffic control management in the countrys
capital region.

Furthermore, the effects of Metro Manilas traffic is not only limited to the delays suffered by the
riding public but traffic congestion can also cause air pollution, noise pollution, vehicular
accidents, and an unhealthy economy in the region and even in the national level.

Whether youre residing in Metro Manila or just a concerned Filipino citizen, here are 10
alarming facts that are related to the heavy traffic in the region that you should know

In 2013, the Land Transportation Office (LTO) listed a total of 2,101,148 motor vehicles
registered in NCR or 27% of the countrys 7,690,038 total registered motor vehicles. In 2015, the
total motor vehicles in Metro Manila has already peaked at 2.5 million. Source: The Standard

Metro Manila has only 1,032 kilometers of roads or 3.5% of the total 39,370 kilometers of roads
nationwide. The National Capital Region has only one kilometer of road per 424
vehicles. Source: The Standard

The traffic demand in Metro Manila is at 12.8 million trips. 69% of these total trips are done
using public transport yet only 22% of the road space is occupied by public vehicles. The other
78% of road space is taken by private vehicles. Source: National Economic and Development
Authority

A study by the National Center for Transportation Studies says that the heavy traffic in Metro
Manila cost the country 137.5 billion pesos in 2011. Source: Rappler

The total population of Metro Manila as of 2010 is already at 11,855,975 which is almost 12% of
the total population of the Philippines. The total land area of Metro Manila (638 square
kilometers) is only 0.21% of the total land area of the Philippines (300,000 square
kilometers). Source: Philippine Census .

Manila, Pateros and Caloocan are the top 3 most densely populated cities in the world. Manila
has a population density of 42,857 people living per square kilometer. Source: Wikipedia

As of 2010, the number of informal settler families in Metro Manila is already more than half a
million. This number is already 20% of the total number of household in Metro Manila. 41% of
these informal settlers are located in government owned lands while 34% are in privately owned
lands. Source:National Economic and Development Authority
20% of the total income of the poor in Metro Manila is spent on transportation. This percentage
is more than what they spend for rice (15% ), utilities (6.97% ), health (2.99% ), clothing
(2.96% ) and education (3.37% ). Source: The Standard

. 85% of air pollution in Metro Manila comes from vehicles. Source: GMA Network

According to a COA report, a P1.314-billion allocation from the Disbursement Acceleration

Program for the rehabilitation of Light Rail Transit 1 and 2 was released in full by the Aquinos
administration in January 2014. However, the rehabilitation projects have not yet been
implemented due to several project revisions. In the same month, the MMDA has launched a
new traffic signalling system worth P290 million. Source: The Standard, Manila Times