The incoming President of the Republic of the Philippines plans to build more flyovers and bridges in Metro Manila over the next two to three years to ease the traffic crisis according to the revelations made by the newly-appointed Department of Public Works and Highways Secretary Mark Villar.
According to the newly-designated DPWH Secretary, Pres. Duterte plans to build various projects in Metro Manila which include a bridge from the Fort Bonifacio business district to Kapitolyo in Pasig to divert vehicle traffic from EDSA and C-5. The Duterte administration will also make an additional flyover in Katipunan, Quezon City, incoming secretary Mark Villar told reporters.
Aside from the planned project of the DPWH under President Duterte, all projects started by the outgoing Aquino administration will be completed as soon as possible. Some of the major projects of the outgoing administration which includes a toll road to Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) and a road that will connect the north and south Luzon expressways, Villar said.
Rep. Mark Villar, the son of Nacionalista Party stalwart Manny Villar and wife Sen. Cynthia Villar told the reporters that the projects of the Duterte administrations particularly in easing traffic in Metro Manila by building bridges and flyovers is indeed doable. He was quoted as saying “It’s very doable. I think before, there were some issues on underspending. It’s just a matter of picking the right projects that have easier right of way, that are faster to implement,” he told reporters Tuesday.
“We hope we can implement them sooner (rather) than later,” he added. President Duterte already asked the incoming 17th Congress to grant him sweeping powers to solve traffic congestion in Metro Manila where more than 12 million people live. The statement of Pres. Duterte was revealed to the media by the incoming Transportation Sec. Arthur Tugade.
Based on the plans of the Duterte admins, in order to ease traffic in Metro Manila, Pres. Duterte needs to use his powers as president to order the opening of private subdivisions to traffic, doing away with public biddings for some projects and removing public markets and transportation terminals from major roads.