Yes, better mass public transport is good for us (Sabong News)
Author
John Tria
Date
MARCH 28 2022
With recent announcements of an upgraded MRT 3 and the possibility of better urban railways and common stations in the near future, people from the regions like me will find it easier to move around Metro Manila. We will take a deeper look at projects that aim to achieve the same improvement in public transport being built in our cities, particularly Cebu and Davao.
These and other upgraded public transport improvements such as more modern minibuses provide better public transport, benefitting majority of Filipinos who commute to and from work and school through these publicly sanctioned conveyances.
New jobs will also be created, with organized terminals providing opportunities for small businesses to conveniently sell things that commuters need. In Mindanao’s major cities, the centralized bus terminals have helped the commuting and even the transacting public, as government offices present in these terminals allow easy access for their transactions.
Better mass public transport can reduce vehicular traffic and carbon emissions, and reduce the demand for parking lots in our cities. It enables the majority of Filipinos to live a quality of life that costs less, and is safer, mirroring the public amenities offered in many cities overseas where OFWs and the Pinoy traveler use similar convenient systems. These are just some of the benefits worth reiterating.
Moreover, with mass transit and public transport improvements on the back of better road systems, it comes as no surprise, therefore that public appreciation for this and connectivity projects like recently upgraded airports and seaports has increased over the last four years.
With these, I wonder why there are people, including political candidates seeking our votes, who are critical of better mass public transport? Perhaps our readers can offer some reasons why they do so?
My congratulations to Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCCI) Vice president for Mindanao Arturo Milan and the newly inducted regional governors of the PCCI. Milan and the leaders of PCCI Mindanao were inducted in a virtual ceremony graced by Senator Lawrence Christopher Go and Mindanao Development Authority (MINDA) Secretary Maria Belen Sunga Acosta. The leaders of PCCI Mindanao who were inducted include regional governors Julie Sinense of Eastern Mindanao, Loreta Sy from Southwestern Mindanao, Nitz Malbas of Southeastern Mindanao, Ruben Vegafria of Northern Mindanao, Pedro Rufo Soliven of Western Mindanao, Elian Macala of the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao, Dan Zambrano of Central Mindanao. Also present were current and former PCCI business leaders led by PCCI President George Barcelon and VP Eunina Mangio and newly appointed BIMP EAGA committee head former PCCI VP for Mindanao Joji Ilagan Bian.
Noteworthy in this event was the presence of foreign chamber heads Keisuke Nakao of the Japanese Chamber of Commerce in Mindanao and Tony Peralta of the European Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The PCCI Mindanao induction is significant as it brings together a broader united business front among Mindanao’s business organizations both local and foreign, in taking a stand to promote investments on the island.
This is especially so in capitalizing on positive reforms and partnerships with government agencies and other civil society organizations that will encourage investor interest like the new infrastructure projects, better peace and security, the 2018 innovation law and the Ease of Doing Business Law, the CREATE Law and the recently signed amended Public Service Act and Foreign Investments Act that will open more sectors to higher levels of investment and economic growth in Mindanao. “One Mindanao” is a community battle cry that can boost the island’s economy further!
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