Recent Papers

AbstractThis systematic review explores the transportation challenges and commuter accessibility issues arising from urbanization in Davao City. Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, the study analyzes relevant literature to offer a thorough overview of the problem. Key themes identified include inadequate public transportation, unequal accessibility in outlying areas, environmental concerns, and lack of cohesive urban and transportation planning. The review concludes with practical recommendations, focusing on sustainable urban transport policies, infrastructure development, and community-oriented planning to effectively tackle these challenges.Keywords: Urban growth, transportation scarcity, commuter accessibility, Davao City, sustainable transport ____________________________________________________________________________1. INTRODUCTIONUrbanization is perhaps one of the most defining and transformative phenomena of the 21st century and is significantly shaping cities worldwide. In Davao City, the fastest-growing urban center in the Philippines, rapid growth has a more profound effect. With a population of over 1.7 million as of 2020 (Philippine Statistics Authority, 2021), the city's infrastructure is increasingly strained. Economic growth and population expansion increase vehicle usage, resulting in more traffic, extended travel time, and poor public transportation (Lagumbay et al., 2018). All these affect the everyday lives of residents and present a challenge for long-term sustainable development.The city has witnessed an influx of new commercial and residential developments to support the growing population and boost the local economy. However, these expansions often lack an alignment with transportation planning, which results in an overloaded and underdeveloped transport system (Bautista, 2020). In the periphery and low-income communities, there is usually restricted access to efficient and affordable transport (Garcia & Santos, 2021).This systematic review synthesizes the existing research on transportation challenges emerging from urbanization, explicitly focusing on Davao City, the fastest-growing urban center in the Philippines. The review is expected to assess the relationship between urban growth and transportation scarcity, examining how rapid population expansion has placed much pressure on the city's infrastructure and outrun transportation planning. Urbanization has, in turn, increased the demand for accessible, affordable, and efficient transportation; hence, mobility challenges, especially in peripheral and low-income communities with limited transit options, have been the outcome. The review looks at the impact of the expansion of cities on commuter accessibility and transportation levels and aims to identify key barriers and gaps in the transportation system. It finally seeks to provide evidence-based recommendations to address these issues, offering practical solutions to improve the city's transportation infrastructure, reduce congestion, and enhance overall accessibility. These recommendations will focus on creating a more equitable and sustainable transit network, ensuring that all residents, particularly those in underserved areas, have better access to reliable transportation while aligning urban growth with transportation planning for long-term development.

Copyright © 2024 Jennylyn R. Saniel. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License.