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Ghio Ong - The Philippine Star
January 24, 2026 | 12:00am
Motorists endure moderate traffic along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) as of 3 PM on December 17, 2025.
Edd Gumban / The Philippine STAR
MANILA, Philippines — Despite getting a lower rank in road congestion rates this year by an overseas firm that studies traffic navigation, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) maintained road traffic conditions in Metro Manila did not improve as more vehicles traverse public roads and highways.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said an average of 200,000 vehicles were added to the daily traffic volume in the metropolis as of last year, or from 3.6 million vehicles to 3.8 million cars every day.
Recently, the Netherlands-based Tomtom Traffic Index 2025 study revealed Manila ranked 40th out of 492 cities in the world in terms of road congestion in 2025, based on the study’s “City” category. The ranking dropped from 14th place in 2024.
The additional 200,000 cars out on the roads would probably also look for parking spaces, which Artes said may also contribute to traffic congestion.
Artes added the MMDA hopes more improvements in road conditions would be put in place such as the ongoing EDSA rehabilitation project, the completion of various rail projects like the Metro Manila Subway, the Metro Rail Transit Line 7 and the North-South Commuter Railway and the proposed three new bridges in Marikina City.
The agency would also continue encouraging motorists to use public transportation such as the MRT 3 and the EDSA Busway system of the Department of Transportation, as well as MMDA-operated Pasig River Ferry System.
Artes also said MMDA general manager Nicolas Torre III has brought in “new ideas, observations and perspectives” on traffic management, which the agency would “study, simulate and consult with stakeholders.”
“We are continuously looking for solutions, doing simulations, studying and implementing traffic mitigating measures that we think will help. We are not promising to end traffic because of the sheer volume of vehicles but at least it won’t worsen and at best relieve the flow of traffic,” he said.
