By: For. Rysch Nae Subijano
In an era of intensifying climate disruptions and urban mobility crises, the latest episode of Resilience Live tackled a pressing intersection: transportation and climate resilience. Episode 17, Roads to Resilience: Transit-Oriented Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, featured University Extension Specialist, Mr. Geoel Anthony Y. Esguerra, who explored how the current transportation paradigm could evolve into a more sustainable, equitable, and adaptive system.
The webinar highlighted the connection between transportation systems and climate vulnerability in the Philippines. Urban congestion alone costs Metro Manila an estimated PHP 3.5 billion daily, a figure projected to climb to PHP 5.4 billion by 2035 without intervention. This economic burden is compounded by greenhouse gas emissions, energy dependence, noise pollution, and the lack of inclusive infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.
In the moment: Participants at Resilience Live Episode 17
Mr. Esguerra emphasized that transportation is not merely a technical concern; it is a social justice and climate issue. Drawing from frameworks like Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) and the Just Transition, the presentation advocates for urban mobility systems that are safe, accessible, and equitable, particularly for vulnerable sectors such as low-income households, women, and the elderly.
Public transportation was framed as a strategy for both mitigation and adaptation. Esguerra discussed the Public Transportation Modernization Program (PTMP), Route Rationalization Plans, and Local Public Transport Route Planning (LPTRP) as mechanisms to reduce inefficiency and over-dependence on private vehicles. Moreover, he introduced Transit-Oriented Development as an urban planning model that encourages compact, walkable, and mixed-use communities anchored around quality mass transit systems.
But beyond physical infrastructure, the heart of the presentation was a call for moral responsibility in transportation planning.
“Very important na maintindihan natin na hindi lang tayo basta pwedeng magtayo ng any infrastructure or any change in our transportation system…” – Geo Esguerra
In this spirit, Mr. Esguerra invited urban planners, local governments, researchers, and citizens alike to reimagine transportation as a critical pathway to resilience, moving people, and fostering inclusive and climate-responsive development.
As the Philippines continues to grapple with the challenges of jeepney modernization, rural isolation, and increasing climate risk, the question now stands: How can we ensure that transportation transitions in the country, such as the jeepney phaseout, protect the environment and the livelihood of vulnerable communities?