Manila, the capital of the Philippines, is the second-most populous city in the country, following Quezon City.
The World Population Review estimates that Manila’s population will reach 15.5 million by 2026.
It is the world’s most densely populated city, with nearly 43,000 residents per square kilometer. This figure surpasses Mumbai’s 23,000 and Tokyo’s 10,000 residents per square kilometer.
Traffic jams are common in Metro Manila, as its streets and roads are congested with private cars and public transport, such as buses and jeepneys, moving at a snail’s pace during peak hours. The growing population of Metro Manila is contributing to increasingly severe road congestion.
In response, some cities in the region, including Quezon and San Juan, are proposing a four-day workweek, with the fifth day reserved for remote work to help reduce vehicular traffic. Other cities are also implementing a shorter work week with extended office hours to save energy amid soaring energy prices (Macababbad, 2026).
Citizen’s push for a people-centered transportation system.
Metro Manila has a large population, but the number of car owners is disproportionately low. Only 6% of residents own a private vehicle, while the majority rely on public transportation, walking, or cycling to get to work, school, or other destinations.
Millions of commuters in Manila travel on overcrowded jeepneys, a type of open-air minibus, or navigate congested and unsafe roads on foot or by bicycle.
This situation highlights a serious issue in Manila: the lack of adequate and safe infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists. The transportation system is more focused on accommodating cars than on serving people’s needs.
The situation is gradually improving, thanks to the citizen-led advocacy group called Move As One Coalition. This coalition consists of 142 civil society organizations and over 77,000 individuals, including transport workers, youth leaders, and everyday commuters. The movement advocates for transportation policies that prioritize people over cars, not only in Metro Manila but across the entire country.
According to WRI, the Move as One Coalition emerged during the COVID-19 pandemic, when the suspension of public transportation highlighted Manila’s transportation crisis. Without public transportation, workers, particularly essential workers and students, struggled to reach their workplaces and access basic services.
The movement rallied other advocacy groups and sectors fighting for the same goals – people-centered mobility infrastructure and systems that support safe walking and cycling, including for people with disabilities and other vulnerable members of the community.
Move as One Coalition’s research shows that only 1% of road spending in Manila supports public transport, walking, or cycling. This data became the rallying point for the advocacy group.
They helped push for budget and policy reforms, “reframing transportation as a public service that shapes the livelihoods, health, and opportunities of millions”.
The article highlights that the movement’s collective efforts have resulted in approximately $946 million in immediate transport funding and $12 billion in medium- and long-term financing, redirecting investment towards safer and more inclusive mobility.
The funds include the construction of a “pedestrian boulevard along the Pasig River and support a car-free zone in Manila’s historic district of Intramuros as a people-friendly public space.
The plan also involves implementing a dedicated busway along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA), Manila’s main arterial highway. This will include designated bus stations, enhanced, safer, and more inclusive pedestrian access, and organized boarding procedures. Additionally, the article states that over 1,200 kilometers of bike lanes have been established across the country, connecting neighborhoods in various cities.
Since then, the movement has played a vital role in supporting advocacy groups that are pushing for policy reform. It has even aided the government by providing media support, budget advocacy, expert advice, and facilitating connections between local communities and government entities.
The advocacy group also aims to implement these changes in other major cities in the Philippines that are facing similar challenges.
The Move As One coalition in Manila, Philippines, demonstrates the transformative power of collective action and persistent advocacy. By uniting various advocacy groups and community sectors around a shared goal and vision, they have strengthened their collective voice.
This unity enables them to advocate for government policies that align with their mission: creating people-centric, equitable transportation infrastructure and systems.
While challenges remain, the progress made in Manila is a positive step forward, offering hope and a model for other cities striving for safer, more inclusive, and sustainable urban mobility.
Sources
Ray, M. & Shin, J. (2026, March 5). Manila’s Commuters Pushed for Safer Streets — and Won. WRI. Retrieved from https://www.wri.org/insights/manilas-commuters-pushed-safer-streets-and-won?
Manila. (2026). World Population Review. Retrieved from https://worldpopulationreview.com/cities/philippines/manila
Salcedo, M. (2026, January 22). Torre: MMDA back to drawing board as PH ranked Asia’s most congested. Inquirer.net. Retrieved from https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/2171692/mmda-back-to-drawing-board-as-ph-remains-asias-most-congested-country
Macababbad, E. (2026, March 12). Shorter workweek to reduce traffic congestion – Zamora. MSN.com. Retrieved from https://www.msn.com/en-ph/news/national/shorter-workweek-to-reduce-traffic-congestion-zamora/ar-AA1YpAfE
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