20/10/2025
Open Letter to the Caloocan City LGU & Mayor Along Malapitan
North Caloocan Needs Real, Lasting TRAFFIC Solutions β Not Just Road Clearing
Every day and night, thousands of us in North Caloocan are trapped in unbearable traffic.
The epicenter of this crisis lies at the intersection of T. Samson Road and Llano Road, but its ripple effect now reaches Deparo Road, Zabarte Road, Camarin Road, Mindanao Avenue Extension, and General Luis Road.
For many residents, what should be a 10-minute drive becomes a two-hour ordeal. This isnβt just about inconvenience β itβs about lost time, lost income, and lost quality of life.
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π¨ The Reality We Face
β’ T. Samson Road is a narrow 2-lane artery built to handle around 10,000β12,000 vehicles per day.
β’ In reality, it now carries 20,000β25,000+ vehicles daily β double its capacity.
β’ Traffic routinely stretches from General Luis to Llano, moving at walking speed from 5:00 PM until as late as 10:00 PM.
β’ Zabarte Road, once a faster alternative, is now congested, while Deparo Road remains chaotic and unregulated.
β’ Camarin Road is in urgent need of widening and proper traffic management.
β’ Most major roads lack sidewalks and bike lanes, forcing pedestrians and cyclists into dangerous conditions.
This is not just poor traffic β itβs an urban gridlock crisis.
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π Short-Term Relief: Open and Connect Existing Roads
Instead of relying solely on multi-billion road widening projects that take years to complete, we can implement smarter and faster local interventions by improving connectivity between existing subdivisions:
Route 1: Kabatuhan β Alecon β Silanganan β Makawili
By connecting Silanganan and Makawili Homes through a small bridge and opening access via Alecon Subdivision, residents gain a direct shortcut to Vista Verde and Mindanao Avenue Extension.
This will ease pressure along T. Samson and Deparo Roads, cutting travel time from Deparo to Mindanao Avenue from 1 hour down to 5β10 minutes.
Route 2: Recomville β Estrella β BF Homes β Dolmar
Opening the closed gate between Estrella Homes 2 and Recomville, and removing the wall between BF Homes Phase 2 (Ninong Florentino St.) and Dolmar Subdivision (Jasmin St.), gives residents a shortcut to Novaliches Bayan.
This will cut travel time nearly in half and relieve congestion at the T. SamsonβLlano choke point.
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π¦ Traffic Volume & Potential Impact
β’ T. Samson currently handles 2,500β3,000 vehicles per hour in each direction during peak hours.
β’ Opening the new internal roads could divert 20β30% of vehicles (roughly 4,000β6,000 cars daily) away from the main corridor.
β’ Widening critical segments of T. Samson, Deparo, Zabarte, and Camarin Roads β while adding sidewalks and protected bike lanes β will future-proof traffic flow and promote safety.
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π Long-Term Fix: Build a Modern Mass Transport System
Traffic management alone wonβt solve this crisis.
North Caloocan is a residential city β but most of its people work or study in Quezon City, Makati, or Manila. That means we need a mass transport system thatβs safe, efficient, and reliable.
The Current Situation:
Jeepneys and UV Express are still the backbone of public transport here. But many are old, uncomfortable, and limited in route coverage. UV Express vans, often overloaded and inefficient, are not designed for mass transport β and yet they remain the only choice for long-distance commuters.
Because of this, many residents buy private cars or motorcycles, worsening congestion further.
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π The Solution: Upgrade Jeepney Routes to Modern High-Capacity Buses
Introduce modern city buses and P2P (point-to-point) buses to replace and expand existing jeepney routes.
Proposed Trunk Routes (P2P Buses β Long Haul)
β’ Bagong Silang β Makati
β’ Bagong Silang β Ortigas
β’ Bagong Silang β Morayta
β’ Deparo β Makati
β’ Deparo β Ortigas
β’ Deparo β Morayta
β’ Malaria β Ortigas
β’ Malaria β Makati
β’ Malaria β Morayta
β’ Bagong Silang β Quezon Ave. (Centris) β PITX
Proposed Feeder Routes (City/Midi/Electric Buses β Local Circulation)
β’ Malaria β Camarin β Deparo β T. Samson β North EDSA
β’ Local loops within Bagong Silang, Deparo, and Malaria leading to trunk bus terminals
This two-tier system will reduce overlapping routes and balance commuter demand.
Even with narrow roads, midi and electric buses can efficiently operate β just like in Japan and South Korea, where similar road widths still support clean, punctual bus systems.
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ποΈ The Role of the LGU and National Agencies
This vision requires coordination β not just enforcement.
β’ The LGU must lead in studying commuter demand, mapping routes, and facilitating talks with LTFRB and transport cooperatives.
β’ The LTFRB must modernize route approvals and franchises for high-capacity buses.
β’ Bus operators must be incentivized to invest in low-emission, narrow-street-friendly fleets.
This collaboration could turn Caloocan into a model city for sustainable urban transport in Metro Manila.
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π Why It Matters
Beyond road widening, mass transport is the true key to decongesting North Caloocan.
When commuting becomes safe, reliable, and comfortable, people choose not to drive.
That means fewer cars, cleaner air, and faster travel for everyone.
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β€οΈ For the People of North Caloocan
We are not asking for miracles β only for vision and political will.
Every hour we spend stuck in traffic is an hour stolen from our families, our work, and our lives.
North Caloocan deserves a transport system that moves people, not just cars.
Letβs reclaim our time, our roads, and our future.
βοΈ Concerned Residents of North Caloocan
