The Department of Transportation said it expects to complete the feasibility study on the installation of cable cars in Metro Manila by the end of the year.
“My target is to finalize the feasibility study by end of this year. They are looking at somewhere in Pasig River as long as they will address the security issues in Malacanang Palace,” Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade said.
Tugade said the government was also looking at the possibility of installing cable cars in Baguio City.
The government, through DOTr, secured P25 million in funding from the French government for a feasibility study on the installation of cable cars.
Tugade said aside from the feasibility study, the French government planned to participate in the installation of the cable cars.
He said the Philippine government was in talks with a mall owner in Metro Manila to install the cable cars to decongest traffic in Metro Manila. He did not identify the developer.
According to the Japan International for Cooperation Agency, the updated daily cost of traffic in Metro Manila was P3.5 billion in 2017, higher than the estimated P2.4 billion based on the previous transport roadmap.
Jica said that with the estimated 12.8 million population of Metro Manila as of 2015, the cost would amount to P273 for each resident a day, up from P187.5 for each resident in the previous roadmap.
It said that without intervention, the daily cost of traffic would increase to P5.4 billion in the coming years.
Jica said Metro Manila’s traffic situation was worsening, as traffic demand reached 13.4 million trips a day.
By 2035, the daily cost of traffic was expected to ease to P3 billion with the government’s “Build Build Build” program, the agency said.
The program involves the construction of subways, railways and expressways across the country.
Jica said with additional projects, the impact would be further reduced to P2.4 billion.
