Metro Manila daily car volume hits 3.6 million, up 10% from previous record

Metro Manila's daily car volume has reached an unprecedented average of 3.6 million, marking a significant increase from previous records and is projected to rise further as the Christmas season approaches.

This daily vehicle count is over 10 percent higher than the previous record of 3.2 million cars recorded two years ago, according to MMDA Chairman Romando Artes.

Artes noted that EDSA alone has seen its daily car volume increase from an average of 400,000 in early November to approximately 434,000 recently, far exceeding its ideal capacity of 250,000 vehicles.

The MMDA anticipates an additional five to 10 percent surge in car volume in the week leading up to Christmas, driven by increased consumer spending fueled by bonuses and 13th-month pay.

Ongoing public transport infrastructure projects, including the MRT-7, the common station for MRT-3 and LRT-1, the subway, and the North-South Commuter Railway, are also contributing to road congestion.

In addition to the sheer volume of vehicles, more frequent road accidents, particularly during peak hours, are exacerbating traffic gridlocks in Metro Manila.