A Needs Assessment of Transport Planning and Traffic Management of Local Cities: The Case of the Philippines

Abstract

Urbanization in the Philippines is one of the fastest in Southeast Asia, as the Philippine economy continues towards service and industrial orientation and away from rural agriculture. Already more than 60% of the population resides in cities, and it is expected to continue to grow relentlessly. Likewise, rapid urbanization led to uncontrolled developments contributing to the deterioration of urban environment; such as the increasing traffic congestion due to improper planning and inefficient traffic management. Similarly, local cities in the Philippines, and perhaps in Southeast Asia, do not have enough comprehension on transport planning theories, models and techniques. Pressure is therefore mounting for Philippine local cities to address urban service requirements including transportation, thus the capacity of local government units to deal with these issues is a critical element in the promotion of sustainable urban development. To examine the needs of cities in developing its capacity to deal with transport and traffic problems, a nationwide survey on 120 cities was done. This paper will present the results of the survey, with the aim of illustrating a comprehensive and clear picture of the needs of cities in the area of enhancing capacity building in transport planning and traffic management.