ROAD PROBLEMS | MMDA mulls options to address growing traffic, long lines in EDSA Busway

June 16, 2021 , 02:53 PM

(June 16, 2021) – Following recent reports of traffic increasing once again in the country’s major thoroughfares, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday said options are being weighed out to address the issue.

MMDA EDSA traffic chief Bong Nebrija explained that the increase in traffic and the number of people going out is due to the easing of quarantine restrictions by the government.

“When we transitioned to GCQ (general community quarantine) there were many businesses that opened up. This means that more employees in initial in the workplace and also customers so that’s the reason for the build-up of people on the roads again,” said Nebrija on One News’ Agenda.

Nebrija added that due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other quarantine guidelines, Filipinos are set on only going to work and going home right away, which contributes to the large crowds.

“Now, when we get out of work, we do not divide the people anymore in their commute back to work. Everybody goes home at the same time. So that’s why when it comes to rush hour, people are rushing in on EDSA, both private vehicles and the busway,” said Nebrija.

Last Tuesday, President Rodrigo Duterte proclaimed that heavy traffic in EDSA has eased.

“Ang traffic ngayon sa EDSA maluwang na, okay. But early on sa administration ko, it was a crisis there,” said Duterte. “Ngayon maluwag na ang traffic ng Maynila, talagang Cubao to airport, it’s about 15 minutes.

Recent posts in social media, however, have shown otherwise, with hundreds of passengers stuck and lining up for buses in EDSA. Others have also posted images of heavy traffic.

Based on MMDA data, vehicular volume on EDSA now average 380,000 vehicles per day, way above the 260,000 daily capacity that the highway was designed for. Nebrija noted the figure is also not too far from the average of 405,000 vehicles per day before the COVID-19 pandemic.

While there have been calls to reimpose number coding, Nebrija said the policy cannot be re-implemented yet.

“We have not normalized the transportation yet. There are many of our frontliners, the health workers, using their private vehicles to go to work. And we don’t want to be overwhelmed by requests for exemptions,” said Nebrija.

Nebrija added they are looking into other options, assuring they will find the necessary solution to solve the growing traffic.

“We are trying to find alternative policies in lieu of this (number coding), like car restriction policy. We will recommend to MMC (Metro Manila Council) an alternative solution on how to reduce the volume of cars in EDSA,” said Nebrija.

(Kiko Demigillo/PM)

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