[LECTURE] Alongside EDSA: Improving Metro Manila’s Transportation System & its Efficiency Using Experiences of other Asian Megacities (A Geographer’s Perspective)

The UP Department of Geography invites everyone to a lecture:

Alongside EDSA: Improving Metro Manila’s Transportation System & its Efficiency Using Experiences of other Asian Megacities

 (A Geographer’s Perspective)

by Dr. Yves Boquet

24 September 2013

1-4PM at Palma Hall Room 207

ABSTRACT

Metro Manila’s traffic is notoriously heavy and seems very wild and chaotic to Western eyes. Behind the apparent chaos appear some logics of a transport system aiming at transporting millions of people every day. EDSA exemplifies the problems of congestion across the Metro Manila area, from traffic jams to overcrowded urban rail transport and inadequate pedestrian facilities. 

The situation seems to get worse over time; however there are some possibilities to improve it. I will comment on some of the recent policies concerning buses around Metro Manila and examine some “success stories” of transport policies and planning in other Asian megacities (Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Singapore, Osaka, Seoul…) that may be relevant to the Philippine case.

ABOUT THE LECTURER

Dr. Boquet is currently a Visiting Professor of the Department.  He comes from the Université de Bourgogne (University of Burgundy) in Dijon, Francea as a professor of Geography.  Since 2009 he has served as a Secretary of the International Geographical Union (IGU) - Commission on Transport and Geography.