EVERY MORNING, the commute begins long before the sun rises. As a student with an 8 AM class, I’ve learned that riding the LRT 2 Marikina-Pasig station after 6:30 AM can stretch my trip by one to two hours. A five-minute train ride can turn into more than an hour of waiting at the entrance of the card scanner plus another on the train platform—surrounded by equally exhausted Filipinos. The system has become so unreliable that I’m more anxious about facing the commute than taking my morning exam.
For millions of workers and students, the day starts with exhaustion that comes before work even starts. Commuting in the Philippines feels less like mobility and more like a gamble: Will the jeepneys and buses be full? Will the line of the terminal stretch endlessly? Will the train malfunction again?
This daily reality for millions of Filipinos, however, often stands in stark contrast to the experience of policymakers with public transportation. From time to time, government officials ride the MRT or hop on a jeepney to “experience” the struggles of commuters. These trips, usually documented and shared publicly, are meant to demonstrate empathy. But for the policymakers, the commute ends when the cameras stop rolling, while for ordinary commuters, the challenges resume the next morning.
This gap in experience becomes more evident when we look at the measures the government introduced to address transport issues. Paying congestion fees on EDSA and allowing private cars in the bus lane are framed as solutions, yet they ignore the daily realities of commuters to favor private vehicles. While these measures provide temporary relief for some, they fail to resolve the long-standing problems that plague our transportation system.
A truly efficient system requires consistent, reliable, and accessible options grounded in proven models. Moreover, we can further improve our transportation system by taking inspiration from international examples: Jakarta’s bus lane and Singapore’s train demonstrate how frequent, well-coordinated service can make mass transport reliable and accessible.
Locally, transport advocacy groups such as the Move As One Coalition have long proposed solutions that prioritize mass transit, protected bus lanes, and walkable infrastructure over car-centered policies.
Yet, despite these proven models and proposals, local policies often remain inconsistent. Notably, public transport solutions have been contradictory, with some calling for free bus rides while others push the removal of the EDSA bus lane, which has significantly shortened travel time for commuters. They also raise a larger question: How can leaders create long-term solutions for a system they rarely navigate? One train ride, no matter how publicized, cannot capture the hours spent in line, the overcrowded platforms, or the fatigue of a commuter.
A system that truly serves the public must be built around the lived realities of commuters. Commuting should not feel like a daily obstacle course. It must prioritize long-term, humane solutions that improve the connectivity between modes of transport and ensure safe spaces for walking and commuting.
Aly is a Legal Management senior specializing in Marketing, expecting to graduate in 2026. She is passionate about advocacy-driven marketing and has actively volunteered in initiatives and organizations promoting children’s welfare and accessible, quality education.
Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed by the opinion writer do not necessarily state or reflect those of the publication.
