STRESSING that traffic is constraining economic progress, Sen. Robinhood “Robin” C. Padilla on Tuesday proposed the use of ropeways or aerial cable cars as a solution to traffic woes in Metro Manila and other urban areas in the Philippines.

Padilla said ropeways are now being used in various parts of the world, and can be useful in the Philippines especially in Metro Manila where traffic congestion has become a major problem.

“Meron pong isang nauuso ngayon na kung tawagin po nila ay ropeway. Ito po ang paggamit ng cable. Nais ko din po sana na maimungkahi po sa inyo na ito ay bagay din sa Pilipinas lalong lalo na sa Metro Manila dahil sa trapik (The ropeway is a mode of transport that is gaining popularity. I wish to suggest that we consider using it in the Philippines especially in Metro Manila because of our traffic woes),” he said in his manifestation.

A World Bank blog in 2017 noted aerial cable cars are being used for urban transport in major cities, with Medellin in Colombia pioneering the use of cable cars for urban transport in 2004.

It noted urban cable cars have grown in popularity around the world, with recent projects in Latin America, Asia and Europe – especiall where geographical barriers such as hills and rivers make other modes infeasible.

Padilla pointed out that so long as traffic woes remain unsolved, the Philippines may not progress.

“Noong ako ay nasa first year ng Criminology, pinagusapan po namin ang trapik. Yan ang isa sa mga subject diyan na sinabi doon na kapag ang trapik natin ay masama, ang pag-unlad ng isang bansa ay masama din (When I was in my first year of Criminology, we discussed the problem of traffic – that so long as traffic is bad, it will be hard to progress),” he said.

“Kaya nangangahulugan kailangan natin ayusin ang trapik. At maaayos lamang yan kung may magandang transportasyon (That is why it is important to fix the traffic problem. And we can do that only if there is feasible transportation),” added Padilla, who supported the call of Sen. JV Ejercito on bolstering our railway system. By PS JUN M. SARMIENTO & CAMILLE P. BALAGTAS

AUTHOR PROFILE

PS Jun M. Sarmiento