The Philippine Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Singapore government have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to develop an intelligent transport system (ITS) that will ease traffic congestion and reduce pollution in Metro Manila.
The MOU was signed by Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade and Kong Wy Mun, chief executive officer of the Singapore Cooperation Enterprise (SCE), Singapore’s single window for all foreign governments seeking to tap the country’s public sector experience.
Under the MOU, the SCE has agreed to help the Philippines improve Metro Manila’s traffic system by sharing Singapore’s best practices in traffic and transport management, and introducing its ITS.
The MOU likewise states that both parties will recommend and adopt suitable traffic management policies, and collaborate on the use of ITS, including installing and implementing various traffic control, enforcement, surveillance, and incident management systems.
Mun, in a speech during the signing ceremony, said Singapore, despite its scarce land and growing population, has managed to keep congestion issues in abeyance through effective transportation management policies and planning, as well as an efficient public transportation network.
As part of the MOU, Mun said SCE will be tapping the services of planning and policy experts from relevant government ministries and aggregate expertise from technology and solutions providers in Singapore for the cooperation.
An ITS is a well-tested means of improving the efficient use of road network capacity that is used by many cities in order to monitor and control traffic flows, with the aim of minimizing congestion, increasing mobility, and improving safety for road users.
The ITS project for Metro Manila will take a comprehensive and holistic approach to traffic control and enforcement management.
It entails developing a detailed ITS master plan and a comprehensive ITS framework intended to improve capacity and knowledge build-up as well as align all interests and concerns of stakeholders toward a common goal.
Tugade, in a press conference after the MOU signing, said they will be studying measures and systems to be implemented in the Metro Manila’s setting. He added that they can also adapt and improve on measures already implemented in other countries, like Singapore.
ITS expert Yao Shih Jih said solutions would depend on the country, but that there are several generic measures that can be applied, such as capping traffic volumes and improving public transportation.
He added, however, that technology is not the only important measure in solving traffic problems, as policies, education, and enforcement are equally important.
Tugade said they have yet to determine how much the project will cost.
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