Balancing Reliability and Sustainability: A Mixed- Methods Assessment of Trsnaport Policy and Computer Behavior in Metro Manila

Metro Manila\'s persistent traffic congestion presents a multifaceted crisis, eroding competitiveness, degrading the environment, and inflicting significant social welfare losses. This research, aligned with the conference\'s focus, investigates the systemic roots of policy underperformance in Metro Manila\'s transport sector. It examines the complex interaction between existing transport policies, commuter behavior, and socioeconomic factors to reveal limitations of current approaches and propose sustainable improvements. Employing a rigorous mixed-methods approach, the study integrates qualitative insights from 42 semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders (government officials, transport planners, and commuters) alongside quantitative data from a 512-respondent survey. This triangulation enables a comprehensive, stakeholder-grounded mapping of how governance deficits are perceived by commuters and influence their daily behavior. The research explores the gap between policy design and on-the-ground outcomes. Key findings reveal that reactive and siloed policy interventions are inadequate. Only 14% of trips are served by rail or Bus Rapid Transit, compared to 38% in Bangkok, illustrating a disparity in sustainable mode share. The study underscores the urgent need for a more citizen-centric, data- driven mobility framework where enhanced coordination capacity is crucial for a sustainable mode shift within Metro Manila\'s environment. This research contributes to integrated transport solutions designed to support sustainable mobility and improve life quality for Metro Manila\'s residents. The concretization of \"coordination capacity\" provides a clear pathway toward establishing an integrated metropolitan transport authority. The resulting insights are crucial for developing policy innovations that not only ensure transport system reliability but also promote environmental sustainability, offering valuable lessons for other urbanizing regions worldwide facing similar challenges.