More vehicles blamed for metro trafficMANILA, Philippines — Despite getting a lower rank in road congestion rates this year by an overseas firm that studies traffic navigation, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) maintained road traffic conditions in Metro Manila did not improve as more vehicles traverse public roads and highways. MMDA Chairman Romando Artes said an average of 200,000 vehicles were added to the daily traffic volume in the metropolis as of last year, or from 3.6 million vehicles to 3.8 million cars every day. Recently, the Netherlands-based Tomtom Traffic Index 2025 study revealed Manila ranked 40th out of 492 cities in the world in terms of road congestion in 2025, based on the study’s “City” category. The additional 200,000 cars out on the roads would probably also look for parking spaces, which Artes said may also contribute to traffic congestion. We are not promising to end traffic because of the sheer volume of vehicles but at least it won’t worsen and at best relieve the flow of traffic,” he said.

Source: Philippine Star January 23, 2026 16:06 UTC