By Raymond Carl Dela Cruz
MANILA – The Department of Transportation (DOTr) on Monday said the country’s rail transit systems emit at least 50 percent less carbon dioxide (CO2) compared to private vehicles, underscoring the environmental benefits of shifting to public transportation.
In a statement, Acting Transportation Secretary Banoy Lopez said the DOTr has been pushing for sustainability efforts in existing rail lines.
“Ang bilin ng Pangulo, gawin nating sustainable ang ating transportasyon. Kaya tayo sa DOTr, isinusulong natin ang tinatawag na commuter-centric transport gaya ng mga tren kung saan mas marami ang nakakasakay. Kung mas maraming sasakay sa tren kaysa private vehicles, malaki ‘yung mababawas sa carbon emissions sa kalsada (The President’s directive is to make our transportation sustainable. That is why at the DOTr, we are pushing for what we call commuter-centric transport like trains where more people can ride. If more people ride trains instead of private vehicles, we can significantly reduce carbon emissions on the road),” Lopez said.
Based on data from National Rail UK’s Greener Travel, car travel generates 167 grams of CO2 per kilometer, far more than the 35 grams of CO2 per passenger per kilometer for rail.
Even assuming an average of two passengers per private vehicle, car travel still emits roughly 83.5 grams of CO2 per passenger per kilometer — more than twice the emissions from rail travel.
Using private car travel as the baseline, existing train lines including the MRT-3, LRT-1, LRT-2 and the Philippine National Railways (PNR) collectively contribute to a net reduction of 74,781 tons of CO2 emissions annually, equivalent to an average reduction of 50 percent.
The upcoming North-South Commuter Railway is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by over 150,000 tons annually — more than double the reductions from the four existing train lines.
The MRT-7, set to open in the second quarter of 2027, is expected to post a net reduction of around 58 percent, or over 60,000 tons.
The Metro Manila Subway Project is likewise projected to lower CO2 emissions by up to 63 percent, equivalent to more than 70,000 tons annually.
Beyond environmental benefits, the shift to rail also addresses the economic cost of congestion. The country loses an estimated PHP3.5 billion a day due to traffic, based on a study by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).
JICA added that the figure could increase to as much as PHP5.4 billion per day by 2035 if no government interventions are implemented.
Free rides for gov’t workers on Sept. 16
Meanwhile, the Light Rail Transit Authority will provide free rides at the Light Rail Transit Line 2 (LRT-2) for all government employees on Sept. 16 in celebration of the 126th Philippine Civil Service Anniversary.
The DOTr-MRT-3 will likewise offer free rides for civil servants on the same day.
State workers only need to present a valid government ID to avail of the free rides throughout the day. (PNA)
