8
Comments
Sustainable Transportation Initiatives in the Philippines |
---|
by Adam Zhou | 20-08-2016 21:08
|
The Philippines is consisted of approximately 7100 islands and because of how each is situated, the structure of transportation and its management is crucial to everyday efficiency. This can range from the mode of vehicle heading to work or school to the transit of goods imported and exported. Sadly, this is not the case, and instead, an infamous reputation has been built regarding this case. The 23.9 kilometer highway, EDSA, known to many Filipinos, seems to always have cars stuck for an hour at the same place and people fighting over to go to the city bus, already overloaded with other passengers. Off to the side, the MRT carries the same story. The technology is outdated, the infrastructure looks like it?s going to crumble from wear, having not gone through renovations in decades, and because of this, citizens are frustrated, especially the 50% of the 100 million population living in urban areas. Though public transportation, the slightly better alternative, constitutes 69% of road trips, with 71% of that statistic being buses and jeeps, carbon emissions are let out in a very generous amount. An increasing number of private vehicles and the inefficient road system is also leading to rates of greenhouse gases, resulting in transportation taking up a significant 36% of total carbon emissions. In a worldwide perspective, transportation takes up 20% of total carbon emissions. Though the road networks have improved at a gradual rate of 25% from 1990 to the present and 54,481 km out of 213, 351 km of roads are paved, more action has to be implemented. Thankfully, this has been done, but only in the past few years. The Department of Transportation and Communications (DOTC) has created the blueprint for systems in which campaigning will be done on this crisis, networks regarding metropolitan transportation will be reorganized, and further green transportation will be introduced to the public. In addition, the strategy released in 2011 organized by top government officials focusing on environmentally sustainable transport (EST) has come a far way. Focusing on 12 main aspects, those being:
Especially due to the rates in which transportation is increasing and the emissions it brings (57% worldwide from 2005 to 2030), officials have strongly suggested the switch to ?moving more people instead of moving more cars.? This is done with the use of public transportation. Following the footsteps of South Korea?s bus program which has brought well-awaited results, a similar program called the express point-to-point bus system is implemented. These type of buses make one or two stops, if not any at all, from origin to destination, can save at least 30 minutes in time, therefore reducing carbon emissions. Plus, green fuel is implemented and can save a big deal of money in the long term. Especially due to technological advancements in modern day society, such modes are sure to come to take a part in green transportation. It?s definitely the right path the Philippines is taking but sooner or later, that path will turn to a different step, and hopefully the placement of such measures already used in developed countries will come to exist. But for now, as always, we have to take one step at a time. Image Source: http://www.rappler.com/science-nature/environment/127075-philippines-sustainable-transportation-strategy
|
![]() |
|
8 Comments
Mr. Park, thank you for your insight on the issue and your background knowledge about what the Philippines has implemented in regards to South Korea's innovations. Hopefully, we will have the same results in due time! Thank you for your thoughts!
Posted 24-08-2016 20:28
Thanks for briefly introducing the public transportation in the Philippines. Well the change of bus system seemed to cause chaos at first but later it turned out to be much better than the previous one where all the cars and the buses were mingled and created traffic. Thanks for writing and have a good day!
Posted 24-08-2016 08:47
Arushi, I do hope that the government implements such measures especially the ones mentioned in your reports as well as other ambassadors from the UAE truly, they're a great role model for developing countries. The process of other forms of public transportation is also underway, but that is expected to finish by the next decade and fully outstretched plans have not been released. Thank you for your comment! :)
Posted 21-08-2016 10:43
'Moving more people instead of moving more cars' is actually an essence of efficient transport system. It's good that sustainable transport initiatives have started in Philippines. But long way to go. Public transport needs to be well developed, more reliable, needs to be available at subsidised fares and various modes like buses, trains, trams etc to be available to effectively reduce the carbon emission. Thanks for the report.
Posted 21-08-2016 04:38
Yeah, I love that concept as well! As in many other sustainability crises, it's the matter of where we place our perspective and in this case, it is what you mentioned. Carbon footprint is a big issue and most likely in the long term, the concept will prove to be beneficial. The future can and will be the opposite of what is shown in the photograph. Thanks for your comment!
Posted 20-08-2016 22:17
I really like the concept of 'moving more people instead of moving more cars' which would ofcourse help in the reduction of our carbon footprint.Thanks for sharing!
Posted 20-08-2016 22:08
That is very true, Jared! Especially in the metropolis, the government should focus initiatives on low producing carbon cars, but since technology hasn't advanced so much in a developing country like the Philippines, we're focusing on policies regarding the overall system of transportation. Thanks for your comment!
Posted 20-08-2016 22:02
cars in most cities produce a lot of carbon damaging the ozone enabling Penetration of hazard sun rays and causing global warming. low producing carbon cars should be built to enable reduction of carbon emissions
Posted 20-08-2016 22:00