JICA proposes Mega Manila transport, ‘dream plan’

The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) on Friday unveiled a “dream plan” that aims to improve the transport system of Mega Manila, which covers Metro Manila, Region 3 (Central Luzon) and Region 4A (Calabarzon).

JICA Project Manager Shizuo Iwata told the Philippine Energy and Infrastructure Seminar the proposed plan has five main components: urban roads (or the missing links of Circumferential Road 3, C5, bridges and others,137-kilometer new roads, flyovers, sidewalks, pedestrians, among others); expressways (426-kilometer intercity expressway and 78-kilometer urban expressway); urban and suburban railways (six 246-kilometer main lines, five 72-kilometer secondary lines and other integrated and improved lines); improved management of public buses and jeepneys; and improved traffic management.