Marcos: Mass transport will end traffic woes, ‘even the rich ride the train’

MANILA, Philippines — The government is ramping up efforts to improve the country’s mass transportation system, President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. said on Wednesday.

During the “Bagong Pilipinas Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Issue,” the President stressed that the mass transit system is the only way to decongest Metro Manila traffic.

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“Wala talagang solusyon ang traffic kung hindi tayo malipat sa kalsada at malipat sa mass transit. Kaya tayo naglalagay ng mga subway, naglalagay tayo ng mga tren, ito po ay para naman ay mas madali talaga. Wala nang traffic,” Marcos said.

(There really is no solution to traffic if we don’t shift to the roads and shift to mass transit. That’s why we’re putting up subways, we’re putting up trains, this is really for it to be easier. No more traffic.)

He also mentioned that even wealthy people in other countries choose to ride public transportation due to its efficiency.

“Kahit yung mga mayayaman na may kaya, sumasakay sa tren dahil yun ang pinakamabilis mapuntahan. Kahit na yung malalaking siyudad – New York, ganoon. London, ganoon. Kahit na sino, ang tren ang ginagamit kaya’t ‘yan talaga ang tanging solusyon,” Marcos pointed out.

(Even the rich who have the means ride the train because it’s the fastest way to get to their destination. Even in big cities like New York, it’s like that. London too. Anyone uses the train, so that really is the only solution.)

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“Kaya talagang ito ay minamadali natin dahil nababanggit nga na napakalaki ang sagabal sa progreso natin itong traffic, hindi lamang sa oras na nasasayang, sa gasolina na nasasayang sa kakaantay na ura-urada sa daan, at yung gastos ng ating mga commuter,” he added.

(So, we’re really rushing this because it’s often mentioned that traffic poses a significant hindrance to our progress, not just in the time wasted or in the gasoline wasted while waiting impatiently on the road, but also on the expenses of our commuters.)

Meanwhile, Marcos also provided a progress report on some of the major railway projects in the country:

North-South Commuter Railway Project (Tutuban – Malolos) – 61 percent complete

North-South Commuter Railway Extension Project (Malolos – Clark) – 56.6 percent complete

North-South Commuter Railway Extension Project (South Extension, Manila-Calamba) – 38 percent complete

Metro Manila Subway Project – 41 percent complete

LRT Line 1 Cavite Extension – 80 percent complete

MRT Line 3 Rehabilitation and Maintenance – 85 percent complete

Unified Grand Central Station – 83 percent complete

MRT Line (Quezon City – Bulacan) – 67 percent complete