Imperial couple, Aquino discuss Metro traffic jams

Although he may not find himself tied up in Metro Manila’s heavy traffic, which is partly due to the popularity of Japanese-made cars, Emperor Akihito said “congestion” was one of the major issues in the transportation sector.

Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko are on a five-day visit that marks the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Japan.

Malacañang Wednesday said President Aquino and the emperor had talked about the “heavier traffic volume in Metro Manila because of the increased automobile sales, mostly of Japanese make.”

Vehicle sales by the Philippine automotive industry surged 23 percent last year to 288,609 units. Of the top five vehicle makers in the country, four were Japanese—Toyota (43.3-percent market share), Mitsubishi (18.7 percent), Isuzu (7.8 percent) and Honda (6.7 percent), according to the Chamber of Automotive Manufacturers of the Philippines Inc.

The surge in motor vehicle sales, population growth and limited road network has resulted in traffic congestion, which has been described by traffic and navigation application Waze as the worst in the world.

A study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency placed the economic losses due to the congestion in the metropolis at P2.4 billion a day, which could rise to P6 billion a day by 2030 if the government failed to intervene.

Biggest issue

In a news briefing on Wednesday afternoon, Hatsuhisa Takashima, press secretary to Emperor Akihito, said “the President mentioned that the biggest issue of Philippine economy is traffic infrastructure and how to modernize it.”

Takashima said Mr. Aquino expressed gratitude to the Japanese government for its assistance in helping the Philippines improve its train system and airport.

Recently, the two countries agreed to advance efforts to improve the transport infrastructure in Metro Manila through a road map aimed at establishing a transportation network in the capital and surrounding areas.

Takashima said the emperor, in return, told the President that one of the major issues in the transportation sector was “congestion,” which Mr. Aquino said the government had been addressing.

Top aid donor

Japan, apart from being the Philippines’ largest trading partner, has been the top foreign aid donor to the Philippines for the past 23 years.

Last year, the Japanese government pledged $2 billion in loans to the Philippines to fund the first phase of the North-South Commuter Railway project, the 36.7-kilometer railway from Tutuban in Manila to Malolos in Bulacan province. The project is aimed at extending the Tutuban-Legazpi City line to Matnog, Sorsogon province.

Asked, however, if World War II was tackled during the meeting, Takashima said there was no mention of it.

“But as you know the emperor has expressed his great profound remorse over the loss of lives of many Filipinos during the war. The emperor has mentioned that the Japanese people must remember the agony suffered and experienced by the Filipinos,” he said.

Takashima described the meeting between President and the Japanese figurehead as “tight” but “cordial and friendly.” –Niña P. Calleja and Nikko Dizon