TRAFFIC X REAL ESTATE

In 2019, the Boston Consulting Group ranked Metro Manila as having the second worst traffic among 416 cities across 7 countries. They reported that Filipinos spend an average of 66 minutes in traffic daily.

Anyone who lives in Fairview and works in Makati would probably laugh at that number—knowing each commute easily takes two hours one way.

At its worst, traffic in the metro reshaped homebuying and rental decisions. Proximity to offices or schools became a top priority. For instance, employees of ADB often narrowed their rental options to just three developments: One Shangri-La (for proximity), and Rockwell or BGC (both conveniently against traffic during rush hour).

There seems to be an unspoken global threshold for how long people are willing to sit in traffic—typically around 45 minutes to an hour one way. That’s about the same commute people endure in the US and in Australia, factoring in walking, waiting, and the ride itself.

In Metro Manila, however, unreliable public transport has pushed people to buy their own vehicles. For many fresh graduates, a car—or at least a motorcycle—is the first major purchase after landing a job. Unfortunately, we're adding vehicles faster than we can build roads. In 2024 alone, we registered 475,000 new vehicles, with Metro Manila accounting for about a quarter of that total.

This is why traffic remains a key driver of condominium demand in the metro. Even though post-pandemic traffic has eased slightly, congestion is expected to worsen again with the upcoming year-long rehabilitation of EDSA.

Metro Manila’s traffic problem will continue to fuel demand for real estate. Those who can afford it will seek homes within central business districts, while others will turn to nearby rentals. A growing trend is owning a condo in the CBD for weekdays and a house in the suburbs for weekends. Property owners who are realistic about the current slowdown—and willing to adjust prices—stand to benefit the most. If your property is priced right and in the right location, it could be the perfect escape hatch for someone who’s had enough of spending hours in traffic every day.