The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), alongside the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), is trialing sensor-laden smart traffic poles and a public mobile application to modernize traffic control across Metro Manila.
Discussed during the 3rd Joint Coordination Committee meeting for the MMITS project in Pasig City, the initiative brings together 17 local government units, national agencies, and academic groups to modernize the capital’s transit infrastructure.
MMDA Chairman Romando Artes emphasized that the project aims to enhance data collection and system planning capabilities.
“These capabilities will be critical in helping us respond to the evolving traffic challenges of the metropolis and in building a more integrated and data-driven traffic management system,” Artes said.
The trial involves fitting existing traffic poles at selected intersections with environmental and traffic sensors to evaluate data accuracy.
Simultaneously, authorities are working to develop “Lakbay Points,” an app created by Cagayan State University students, with plans to integrate it into local and national agency networks.
Beyond the pilot programs, the committee highlighted upgrades to Waze dashboards and the creation of the Road DX System—a centralized platform designed to unify data management and support operational decisions.
JICA Senior Representative Takanori Morishima acknowledged the joint efforts driving the project’s milestones.
“All these accomplishments so far were made possible through the sincere efforts of MMDA, partner agencies, LGUs, and JICA. We look forward to a sustained and even strengthened cooperation among us all,” Morishima said.
Looking ahead, MMDA Deputy Chairperson Frisco San Juan Jr. stressed the importance of scaling these solutions into permanent operations.
“We need to finalize and validate the ITS Development Plan with our stakeholders, endorse the priority projects for implementation, and ensure that our pilot projects can eventually be scaled up and integrated into our regular traffic management operations,” San Juan said.
The technical project forms part of the Five-Year Action Plan for Traffic Management 2023–2027, building on JICA-supported traffic management studies conducted from 2019 to 2022.
Over the next six months, the team will focus on refining the development roadmap and deploying the initial field tests.