Short-Term Fix or Long-Term Folly? Dissecting Duterte’s Traffic Strategy

By Louis ‘Barok‘ C. Biraogo — December 26, 2024

RODRIGO Duterte is back in the spotlight, this time with a seemingly straightforward plan: flood Davao City’s streets with more traffic personnel. But here’s the twist—what seems pragmatic on the surface could either be a temporary band-aid or the opening gambit in a deeper political strategy. Are we ready to look beyond the traffic and see the bigger picture?

Back to Basics: Duterte’s Proposal for Davao’s Traffic

At first glance, Duterte’s proposal to assign an additional 50 to 75 traffic enforcers may seem like a reasonable, immediate fix. He posits that trained personnel stationed at congested intersections and critical chokepoints can alleviate traffic snarls, particularly during peak hours. This approach resonates with his mayoral legacy—practical, visible, and action-oriented. But as history often reveals, short-term practicality doesn’t always translate into sustainable impact.

The suggestion aligns with Duterte’s ethos of direct intervention, bypassing bureaucratic complexities. However, the promise to “solve the problem” by sheer manpower belies the systemic issues plaguing Davao’s streets: inadequate infrastructure, urban sprawl, and a glaring lack of efficient mass transit options.

Beyond the Traffic: Davao’s Infrastructure-Development Mismatch

Duterte himself admits that the city’s infrastructure has failed to keep pace with its economic growth. Roads like San Pedro Street cannot simply be expanded without monumental cost and disruption, and plans for satellite cities remain distant dreams. While his acknowledgment of the issue is commendable, his proposed solutions skirt the underlying causes of congestion: car dependency, insufficient urban planning, and fragmented governance.

Davao City is not alone in this struggle. Across the Philippines, urban planning often comes as a reaction to crises rather than as a proactive measure. The city’s existing programs—ranging from the Coastal Road Project to the Davao Public Transport Modernization Project—are commendable but require years of development and substantial funding to realize their full potential.

The Trade-Offs: Effectiveness and Unintended Consequences of Duterte’s Proposal

Duterte’s focus on human enforcement carries inherent limitations. Traffic personnel can only do so much within a road network already stretched to its limits. Moreover, the deployment of additional enforcers risks increasing bureaucracy, and without stringent oversight, corruption—a perennial Philippine issue—could easily infiltrate the system.

Enforcement-heavy solutions also risk alienating the public. Many Filipinos already view traffic interventions as burdensome rather than helpful, and the specter of inconsistent enforcement looms large. Will these personnel receive adequate training? Can they act decisively in emergencies without causing additional gridlock? These questions remain unanswered.

The Future of Davao’s Traffic: Alternative Pathways and Bold Solutions

Davao City’s predicament calls for more than just temporary relief; it demands a transformative approach to urban mobility. Sustainable solutions like investing in public transportation, embracing smart traffic systems, and incentivizing alternative modes of commuting hold the key to lasting change.

The Davao City Bus Project, with its promise of electric and Euro-5 buses, is a beacon of hope. But its success depends on overcoming logistical, financial, and social barriers. Likewise, the Coastal Road Project must be complemented by efforts to reduce car dependency, lest it become a fleeting reprieve in a city teetering on gridlock.

Reading Between the Lines: The Political Undertones of Duterte’s Statement

Duterte’s intervention in Davao’s traffic issue also holds political significance. As the city he once ruled grapples with modern challenges, his statements could be interpreted as an attempt to reaffirm his enduring influence. By proposing straightforward, actionable solutions, Duterte positions himself as a problem-solver—a contrast to the often sluggish bureaucratic machinery.

Yet, this strategy may also tether his legacy to the very issues he seeks to address. Should the traffic woes persist despite his efforts, the public might begin to scrutinize his two-decade tenure as mayor and his missed opportunities to lay a stronger foundation for Davao’s future.

The Public Pulse: Understanding Davao’s Traffic Woes Through Public Perception

For Davaoeños, the daily grind of congestion is more than a mere inconvenience—it’s a symbol of broader governance failures. Duterte’s appeal for patience is unlikely to appease an already frustrated populace. His proposed measures might temporarily ease tensions, but they risk being dismissed as mere palliatives.

At the same time, his critique of “quick-fix” solutions aligns with a growing sentiment among urban planners: that cities must reimagine their structures rather than merely tinker with them. The question is whether Duterte’s words will translate into meaningful action or fade into the din of campaign rhetoric and political maneuvering.

The Davao Challenge: Reconciling Legacy and Accountability

As Duterte wades into Davao City’s traffic quagmire, he faces a dual challenge: delivering immediate relief to a weary populace while addressing the deeper issues that underpin the crisis. His proposal to deploy more traffic personnel reflects a pragmatic mindset but risks becoming a fleeting fix without bold, visionary policies to back it up.

Davao’s traffic troubles are more than a local issue; they are a microcosm of the Philippines’ broader struggles with urban planning and governance. If Duterte truly seeks to cement his legacy as a transformative leader, he must champion long-term solutions that prioritize sustainability over expedience. Only then can the city—and the nation—begin to move forward, one unclogged road at a time.