Metro Manila's Christmas gridlock: An annual ordeal

Traffic in Metro Manila is now on crawling speed as the Christmas season nears. On the road, this is not the season to be merry. Instead, it has become synonymous with another tradition: unbearable traffic. Only a few days into October and travel time has become longer — vehicles crawl on EDSA, and side streets choke with cars, jeepneys, buses, delivery vans, and motorcycles. By December, the gridlock worsens—especially when the rain falls or payday weekends collide with holiday shopping rush.

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It is an ordeal so familiar that we joke about leaving hours earlier than usual for what should be a 30-minute trip. Others resign themselves to long stretches of time wasted in vehicles, scrolling on their phones or dozing off, while productivity, fuel, and patience are drained away. But beneath the humor and resignation lies a serious problem that continues to sap the quality of life, the economy, and even the health of Metro Manila's residents.

Traffic congestion is not just an inconvenience-it is a cost. A 2022 Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) study estimated that the Philippines loses more than P3.5 billion daily due to traffic in Metro Manila in terms of lost productivity, wasted fuel, and inefficiency. During peak holiday season, that figure likely soars higher. What could have been spent with family, in leisure, or in creative work, is instead burned away on congested highways.