The government is optimistic there will be a smooth flow of traffic in the metropolis during the Christmas season.
Undersecretary Thomas Orbos of the Inter-Agency Council on Traffic (I-ACT) expressed the belief that they would achieve its objectives of improving the traffic situation with the cooperation of all stakeholders, not just in the National Capital Region, but also in the adjacent provinces of Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite and Laguna.
Orbos, also the concurrent general manager of the Metro Manila Development Authority, ordered members of Task Force Alamid to intensify anti-illegal parking operations, especially on major streets leading to airports and shopping centers, to further ease traffic conditions in Metro Manila this holiday.
“Traffic regulations are made for the safety of both drivers and pedestrians. There are instances, however, when necessary tweaks have to be made to ensure that people comply with the rules of the road. Besides, it’s for everyone’s benefit in the long run,” he said.
The I-ACT chief directed the task force to double their efforts in clearing sidewalks and major thoroughfares of obstructions, including illegally parked vehicles, vendors and other structures.
Orbos also instructed his men to assist the MMDA in apprehending drivers of out-of-line or colorum public utility vehicles who also contribute to the worsening road congestion in the metropolis.
The latest operation conducted by the group resulted in the apprehension of four colorum vehicles along President Diosdado Macapagal Avenue and Roxas Boulevard in Pasay City.
Last September, the task force apprehended a total of 465 traffic violators and impounded 166 illegally parked and colorum vehicles along Commonwealth Avenue, Pasay City, Marcos Highway and P. Tuazon Avenue.
Joel E. Zurbano
The team also arrested a total of 394 traffic violators and impounded 37 illegally parked and colorum vehicles along roads in cities of Paranaque, Pasay, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Caloocan and Quezon City in October.
The Department of Transportation mobilized personnel of its Office of Commuter Affairs, headed by Assistant Secretary Elvira Medina, to further beef up its force multipliers tasked to assist Alamid in its clearing operations in the metropolis.
Aside from the DOTr, other members of the I-ACT include MMDA, Land Transportation Office, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board, and the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group.
I-ACT has new member-agencies, including the Armed Forces of the Philippines, the local government units through the Metro Manila Council (MMC), and the Liga ng mga Barangay ng Pilipinas.
MMC is the governing board and policy-making body of MMDA.
“Ultimately, the aim is to reduce traffic and have safer sidewalks and roads for drivers, commuters and pedestrians,” said Orbos.
Meanwhile, MMDA chairman Danilo Lim is hoping that the modified guidelines of the agency’s Motorcycle and Yellow Lanes policy will eventually cause smoother traffic flow along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue.
“The agency’s target is to remove the image of EDSA as a parking lot and instead be a free-flowing road,” Lim said.
The MMDA will begin the strict implementation of the policy next week.
MMDA assistant general manager for planning Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. announced that beginning Monday, public utility vehicles such as buses, UV Express, and jeepneys will not be allowed to go outside the yellow lane. Private vehicles, meanwhile, can enter the yellow lane 100 meters distance before exit.
Garcia explained that first lane from the sidewalk serves as loading/unloading zone while the second lane would be for provincial and point-to-point (P2P) buses. Loading and unloading on the second lane would be strictly forbidden.
“Chairman Lim is committed to prioritizing and easing the burden of the riding public that’s why we need to fully enforce the traffic laws,” Garcia said.
The agency will also conduct a two-day dry run for the implementation of motorcycle lanes or blue lanes along EDSA on Nov. 20-21. Stricter enforcement will be implemented on the following day, Nov. 22.
According to Garcia, motorcycle riders can overtake to the left-most lane to “efficiently practice motorcycle mobility.”
“We’re doing this for the safety of our motorcycle riders,” he said.
MMDA traffic constables will also carry placards to easily guide the motorists.
Violators will be apprehended via the no contact apprehension policy to avoid obstructions. They will be fined P500 per violation.