'Carmaggedon' now, progress later

The banner headline of the Manila Bulletin on May 21, 2025—“Brace for Carmaggedon”—may have sounded apocalyptic, but its deeper message is one of urgent transformation.

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Metro Manila is bracing for major traffic disruptions as several overlapping infrastructure projects accelerate in preparation for the Philippines’ hosting of the ASEAN Summit in 2026.

The immediate outlook is undeniably grim: narrowed roads, rerouted traffic, extended travel time, and frayed tempers. Commuters and motorists will have to endure months of congestion, noise, and dust. But beneath the looming inconvenience lies a rare opportunity—one that must not be squandered—for long-term urban improvement and national prestige.