ESPRESSO MORNINGS

By Joe Zaldarriaga

Mr. Joe Zaldarriaga, fondly called “Manong Joe”, is a distinguished figure in the country’s corporate communications landscape. Holding the position of Vice President and Head of Corporate Communications at Manila Electric Company (Meralco), he has orchestrated unparalleled success for the utility company, winning accolades for their brand of service communications.
Under his guidance, Meralco achieved unprecedented milestones, clinching a historic 3-peat Company of the Year title at the IABC Philippine Quill Awards, scoring the only PR Team of the Year trophy bestowed at the Anvil Awards, and securing numerous honors at international and local communication awards.
Manong Joe’s leadership also extends as a respected member of the Board of Trustees for the Public Relations Society of the Philippines (PRSP), concurrent with his role as Chairman of the International Association of Business Communicators Philippines (IABC Philippines) where he also served as its President.
Manong Joe is a distinguished awardee of the medallion of honor and scroll of commendation from the University of Manila, owing to his years in public service as a communications professional. He shares his insights through columns in renowned publications, including The Philippine Star’s The Z Factor, and Philippine News Agency’s ESPRESSO MORNINGS.

Newly installed Transportation Secretary Vince Dizon, in a recent press briefing, said he aims to accelerate big-ticket transport projects, particularly high mass transit ones as he voiced the need to push forward with more public-private partnerships (PPPs).

His remarks are indeed a welcome development for motorists and commuters alike and serve as an affirmation of the significant contribution of the private sector in realizing large scale projects for public benefit—in this case, with the goal of picking up the pace to complete mass transit projects within a faster timeline.

While there is progress over the years, the pace of developing our mass transit systems remains slow and sluggish compared to our neighboring countries. Delays due to right of way issues, red tape, and financial constraints have significantly slowed progress.

For decades, the Philippine rail system which used to be working back in the day (I remember riding the Philippine National Railways from Paco Station to Bulan, Sorsogon) has been left behind in the region as countries like Indonesia, Thailand, and even Vietnam make huge strides to modernize their mass transit networks.

The launch of the Jakarta Mass Rapid Transit in 2019 for example should serve as a wake-up call for the Philippines—which has long struggled with chronic delays—to accelerate its railway projects and improve the service of existing ones.

I have been to Tokyo, New York, Singapore, London, South Korea, Paris, Hong Kong, and other progressive cities with dependable and efficient rail networks that have become the default choice for transportation of the people, and I have clearly seen the difference reliable transportation spells for the economy. An efficient transportation network is an economic growth enabler—bridging the gap between rural and urban areas, spurring job creation, facilitating faster trade, and promoting convenience for the riding public.

Sadly, the case is highly different here in Metro Manila where the vast majority is heavily reliant on road transport. The problem with such a situation is road transport is highly prone to congestion and delays. Top of mind of course is EDSA. We’ve seen the impact on our economy—with billions in losses daily due to traffic gridlocks. All sorts of solutions have been attempted but the problem simply is congestion. No amount of bus lanes and any other solutions will solve that.

By now, we should have all realized that infrastructure delays bear significant social and economic costs.
It’s time to move full speed to finally bring to life these long-awaited mass transit projects, and (hopefully) finally unburden the suffering of millions of Filipinos of daily traffic woes that have long plagued our country.

High mass transit projects are the key to the success of the government’s traffic reform program for three primary reasons: to improve connectivity between rural and urban areas, decongest Metro Manila traffic, and ease public transportation woes experienced by millions of daily commuters.

We have seen in the past how collaboration between the public and private sectors have enabled national progress and with the growing economic demands of our country, the need to accelerate the completion of transport projects—particularly rail systems—have never become more urgent and necessary.

Private sector participation can and should play a key role in the development of these public transport systems. Beyond the financial investment, the private sector can introduce innovation through technology transfer. On the part of the public sector, the government bears the responsibility to cultivate and maintain a regulatory environment that encourages private investment. PPPs after all thrive in an environment of mutual confidence—with both sides working together to deliver projects effectively and efficiently for national progress.

In improving our transportation infrastructure, particularly our rail systems, we must keep in mind that this is a shared responsibility—which if addressed properly—will also result in shared benefits.

While I understand that we are still far from having a public transportation system similar to the likes of Japan and Singapore, I am hopeful that development of key transport projects—particularly rail systems–can be significantly accelerated during the term of President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.

Filipino commuters deserve nothing less. We need to act now.