THE president of the Davao City Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Inc. (DCCCII) said that there is a need for the city to address its growing traffic issues as more developments are happening in the city.
Arturo Milan, DCCCII president, said the city faces a trade-off between the heavy traffic congestion and the economic boom.
“As we progress, magkadaghan pud ang tao nga muanhi sa Davao resulting to the congestion in the city. But this must be addressed also para dili maka-discourage sa mga future pang investments sa Davao (More people are coming to Davao City due to progress resulting to congestion. But this must be addressed as to not discourage future investments in Davao),” Milan said.
He also described the long stretch of JP Laurel Avenue as “Edsa” because of the traffic congestion created alongside the city’s economic development.
However, the business leader said he wishes for Davao not to have the same tormenting traffic condition like in Metro Manila.
Based from the study conducted by Japan International Cooperation Agency, the worsening traffic in Metro Manila now costs P3.5 billion in lost opportunities per day, and the government’s “Build Build Build” program is committed to reduce around P3 billion losses due to congestion in 2035.
“That’s why we from the Davao City Chamber supports the ongoing road infrastructure developments like coastal roads and bypass roads in the city as an effective way in addressing the mass-transit system in the city,” Milan said.
Meanwhile, the construction of the first phase of the Mindanao railway transit by the Department of Transportation which covers the cities of Tagum, Davao, and Digos has a budget of P36 billion.
The first railway system in Mindanao aims to also address linkage between neighboring cities and create more opportunities by lessening congestion.