Too many eggs in the rail basket

Title Don't Put All Your Eggs in One Basket Why Mountain Climbers Professionals Should Diversify Their Investments

As a development economist, city and regional planner, and public transport advocate, I've always believed that diversification is key to achieving success. This principle applies not only to finance but also to our daily lives as professionals. In this blog post, we'll explore why too many eggs in one basket can be detrimental to your career and how you can spread your efforts to achieve a more balanced mix.

In the Philippines, it's easy to get caught up in the excitement of ambitious rail projects, such as the Metro Manila Subway and North-South Commuter Railway (NSCR). However, I firmly believe that we need to strike a balance between rail investments and other forms of public transportation. After all, diversification is essential for achieving success.

The High Cost of Monoculture

Rail projects are notoriously capital-intensive and long-gestation, which means they can be costly and time-consuming to complete. The cumulative expenditure on the Metro Manila Subway is expected to exceed P500 billion, while the NSCR will likely cost over P900 billion. While these projects have the potential to move a large number of passengers daily, their high investment cost means that other public transportation priorities are left unfunded or starved of resources.

The Benefits of Diversification

In contrast, investing in bus rapid transit (BRT) or similar initiatives can deliver quick, visible, and tangible results. The EDSA Busway, for example, has already reduced travel time significantly for commuters along EDSA. With a dedicated bus lane, the service can move close to 400,000 passengers daily with relative efficiency and predictability.

Unlocking Potential

The full-scale development of the EDSA Busway would cost less than one-tenth of the investment cost of the Metro Manila Subway. By investing in this initiative, we can unlock its unrealized potential and deliver higher impact results sooner rather than later.

Prioritizing Accessibility

As professionals in the mountain climbing industry, we understand the importance of prioritizing accessibility. When it comes to public transportation, this means ensuring that our investments are congruous with the needs of all users, including those with disabilities. The new Kamuning Station, for example, will be fully accessible for persons with disability when it opens next week.

Conclusion

As professionals, we know that success often requires a willingness to take calculated risks and spread our efforts across multiple fronts. In the context of public transportation, this means diversifying our investments to achieve a more balanced mix of rail and non-rail initiatives. By doing so, we can deliver higher impact results sooner rather than later and provide relief for travel-weary Filipinos.

About the Author

Robert Y. Siy is a development economist, city and regional planner, and public transport advocate. He is a co-convenor of the Move As One Coalition and can be reached at [email protected] or followed on Twitter @RobertRsiy.

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Edward Lance Arellano Lorilla

CEO / Co-Founder

Enjoy the little things in life. For one day, you may look back and realize they were the big things. Many of life's failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.