During a concert that sparked controversy and drew the presence of Philippine President Bongbong Marcos Jr., Coldplay’s lead singer, Chris Martin, brought attention to the infamous traffic conditions in Metro Manila, stating, “I think you’re number 1 in the world.”

For anyone who has navigated the bustling streets of the capital region, the frustrations are not unfounded.

Data reveals that Metro Manila holds the dubious distinction of being the world’s slowest metro area for driving, according to the 2023 TomTom Traffic Index.

Surveying 387 cities spanning 55 countries, the Imperial Manila took the lead in the compilation of metro areas characterized by the slowest travel times.

A mere 10 kilometers in the Philippine capital demands an astonishing 25 minutes and 30 seconds on average.

In stark contrast, Sydney in Australia boasts a swift average travel time, registering just 15 minutes and 50 seconds for the equivalent distance.

The Traffic Index distinguishes Metro Manila for having the worst traffic in a metro area, encompassing both city and rural areas in close proximity.

Even when examining Manila’s city center alone, within a 10-kilometer radius of the busiest parts of the metro, the situation remains dire.

Manila ranks as the ninth worst globally, with an average travel time of 27 minutes and 20 seconds, surpassing even other Southeast Asian cities.

Notably, London claims the title for the slowest city center, with an average travel time of 37 minutes and 20 seconds.

However, Manila holds the unfortunate record for Southeast Asia, surpassing cities such as Taichung in Taiwan and Rome, Italy, which secured the 11th and 12th positions on the list, respectively.

The traffic nightmare escalates during the Christmas “carmaggedon,” with the worst day recorded on December 15, when the average travel time for 10 kilometers soared to 31 minutes and 50 seconds.

Rush hour exacerbates the already challenging conditions.

Fridays, between 5 pm and 7 pm, mark the peak, with an average travel time of 35 minutes and 30 seconds for the same distance.

TomTom’s data indicates a worsening trend, with Filipinos losing up to 117 hours annually due to congestion in 2023, an increase of 12 hours and 51 minutes compared to the previous year.

Transportation data specialist TomTom’s 2023 Traffic Index, however, faces skepticism from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

Acting chairperson Don Artes questioned the methodology, suggesting a discrepancy in data, PhilStar reported.

Artes expressed doubts, stating, “First of all, we don’t know the methodology employed by TomTom to say that Metro Manila is number one [worst in their Traffic Index ranking].”

Despite the MMDA’s reservations, TomTom’s findings highlight the pressing issue of traffic congestion in Metro Manila. With an ever-growing number of vehicles on the road, the challenge of managing the city’s overburdened infrastructure remains a significant concern for authorities.

Artes acknowledged the problem, citing record-high sales of private vehicles as a major contributor to the vehicular congestion in the metro.

“Our road network in Metro Manila is only at 10,000 kilometers. So you can just imagine that we fit around 3.6 million vehicles there,” Artes explained.