It’s been over two decades since Tsikot’s inception — and in that time, Metro Manila’s transport landscape has shifted dramatically. Back in 2002, owning a car was a luxury for a relative few, traffic jams were bothersome but not yet legendary, and public transportation still moved the masses with less drama. Fast forward to 2025 – the megacity’s car landscape has transformed dramatically.
Only about 12% of Metro Manila residents own cars, yet private vehicles dominate 80–90% of road space. The city has added millions more people and cars, but not enough roads or transit improvements to keep pace.
In the early 2000s, Metro Manila’s population was around 10 million. Today it exceeds 13.5 million, packed into a dense urban footprint. Car ownership skyrocketed in the same period. Nationwide, registered vehicles jumped from roughly 4 million in the early 2000s to over 14 million by 2023.
Metro Manila alone went from an estimated 1–2 million vehicles in the early 2000s to 3.8 million by 2022. That’s around 1,234 vehicles per kilometer of road in the capital region – literally bumper-to-bumper.
As of 2024, Metro Manila had around 3,000 km of roads and nearly 4 million registered vehicles. That means over 1,200 vehicles per km of road. Most people don’t own cars, yet those who do take up the bulk of the road space — a key cause of congestion.
From 2000 to 2020, Metro Manila’s population grew by ~35%, but vehicle registrations grew by more than 200%. It’s no wonder traffic is now legendary, with drivers spending 50% of their commute time stuck in traffic.
In 2002, only around 85,000 new cars were sold in the Philippines. By 2017, that number hit a record 473,943 units. Despite a dip during COVID-19, sales bounced back to over 440,000 in 2023.
Financing options, rising incomes, and more affordable models made car buying easier for more people. Used car sales also surged, especially with platforms like OLX, Facebook Marketplace, and Tsikot’s own listings driving the trade.
In the early 2000s, sedans ruled. Now? It’s all about SUVs, MPVs, and crossovers. The Toyota Fortuner, Mitsubishi Montero, and even smaller 7-seaters like the Xpander or Ertiga are dominating the streets.
New roads were built, but they couldn’t keep pace with the surge in vehicles. Key additions include:
Despite these, congestion persists. Skyway, for example, helped at first, but now suffers from bottlenecks of its own.
Driving Quezon City to Makati in 2002? Around 45 minutes. In 2025? Easily 90 minutes or more during rush hour – even with toll roads.
There were only two rail lines in 2002: MRT-3 (EDSA) and LRT-1. Today, we have LRT-2, MRT-7 (under construction), and the Metro Manila Subway in progress. Still, capacity is low and crowding remains a challenge.
Jeepneys are being phased out or modernized. The EDSA Bus Carousel and UV Express vans added structure to the chaos. But strikes, route issues, and capacity limits persist.
Grab, Angkas, and others changed the game since 2015. Now they’re deeply embedded in daily transport routines.
From under 2 million in the early 2000s, motorcycles now make up more than 50% of all vehicles in the Philippines. Delivery services, traffic-beating commutes, and affordability drove this boom.
Before COVID, bike commuters were rare. By 2021, over 300 km of bike lanes were installed across Metro Manila. Cycling counts showed 150,000+ daily riders in the city, and many still pedal to work today.
2002: Brand-new Toyota Corolla = ₱650,000 2025: Mid-range SUV or Vios = ₱1.1M – ₱1.5M
Thanks to inflation and competition, prices have increased – but so have financing options and vehicle choices.
Gasoline rose from ₱17/liter in 2002 to ₱60+/liter in 2023. Maintenance and insurance costs have risen too, though many opt for used cars or motorcycles to manage costs.
NCR minimum wage doubled since 2002, and BPO sector wages increased even faster. Still, car ownership eats up a large chunk of income — about ₱300–₱500/day in total costs.
Julian, commuter: “Used to leave QC at 6am. Now I leave by 5 just to make it on time.”
Mara, new car owner: “MRT was so unreliable. Bought a used car in 2022 — expensive, but worth it.”
Dealer in QC: “We see more young professionals now — some even in their early 20s — buying cars.”
Jeepney driver: “Modern jeep? Gusto ko, pero mahal talaga. Sana may tulong galing sa gobyerno.”
Since Tsikot launched in 2002, Metro Manila has seen massive changes in transport and mobility. Car sales boomed, motorcycles dominated, and bike culture emerged. Roads expanded, but congestion worsened. Public transit modernized, but slowly.
The next challenge? Shifting from car-centric to commuter-centric. With smarter policies, better infrastructure, and a community that cares — like Tsikot’s — that future is still possible.
Got your own Manila driving story since 2002? Drop it in the comments, or browse our latest listings to find your next ride.
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