PCOO_insidepage_NEWS
04 Jan 2016
  • Government determined to solve traffic congestion
  • President Aquino names new Philippine ambassador to Spain

 Government determined to solve traffic congestion
 
Communication Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. on Monday said the government remains committed to solve the traffic congestion in the National Capital Region (NCR).

“Determinado ang pamahalaan na gawin ang nararapat upang tumugon sa pangangailangan ng mga mamamayang naninirahan at naghahanapbuhay sa NCR at kanugnog na rehiyon. Inaprubahan na ng NEDA (National Economic Development Authority) Board noon pang Hunyo 2014 at ipinapatupad na ang mga batayang prinsipyo ng Mega Manila Dream Plan o Roadmap for Transport Infrastructure Development for Metro Manila and Its Surrounding Areas, including Calabarzon and Central Luzon,” Secretary Coloma said in a statement. Calabarzon refers to the provinces of Cavite, Laguna, Batangas, Rizal and Quezon.

The Palace official said that based on the recommendation of the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the roadmap hopes to solve traffic congestion; prevent households from living in hazardous conditions; remove barriers for seamless mobility; eliminate the excessive cost burden for low-income groups; and prevent air pollution.

Coloma was reacting to a report quoting an official of the American Chamber of Commerce of the Philippines (AMCHAM) as saying that Metro Manila may become uninhabitable within four years due to the worsening traffic situation.

Senior advisor of AMCHAM, John Forbes, stressed the need to immediately improve roads and infrastructure.

Forbes said Metro Manila is “at risk of becoming uninhabitable, as annual new car growth increases to 500,000 by 2020. While roads are being improved throughout the country, the National Capital Region urgently needs more limited access roads, especially skyways, and rail.”

He also suggested that aside from access roads, the new airport terminal in Clark should be built in the next two years with a non-stop fast train connector similar to Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, and Tokyo to improve traffic congestion. PND (jm)


President Aquino names new Philippine ambassador to Spain
President Benigno S. Aquino III has appointed his Chief of Presidential Protocol as the new Philippine ambassador to Spain.

President Aquino named Celia Anna Feria as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Kingdom of Spain with concurrent jurisdiction over the Principality of Andorra.

In a transmittal letter to Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario, Executive Secretary Paquito Ochoa, Jr. said the President signed Ambassador Feria’s appointment letter last December 29.

A transmittal letter has also been sent to the Commission on Appointments.

Feria took her oath of office as Chief of Presidential Protocol under the Office of the President in January 2013. PND (co)