The Metro Manila Development Authority on Friday decided to suspend the full implementation of the Expanded High Occupancy Vehicle traffic scheme along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue on Aug. 23 following the opposition of senators.
But MMDA general manager Jose Arturo Garcia Jr. said in a press conference that the week-long dry run of the controversial policy will continue until Wednesday next week.
“We respect the wisdom of our senators. We are suspending the full implementation of the policy on Aug. 23,” he said.
Garcia said the fate of the Expanded HOV policy prohibiting single drivers on a portion of Edsa rests on the Metro Manila Council, the governing board and policy-making body of the MMDA.
“MMDA has no power to stop the policy because it is a (MMC) resolution. It is also the MMC that has the last say,” said Garcia.
The dry run period of the policy on Edsa continues until the MMC convenes, according to Garcia, adding that “we will remain on status quo until the MMC, composed of the Metro Manila mayors, convenes.”
Despite the suspension, Garcia urged the public to still participate in the dry run to determine the impact of the new traffic scheme.
The MMDA official said the MMDA is open to amend the guidelines of the policy that hopes to reduce the number of vehicles along Edsa while encouraging people to carpool.
Garcia explained that the new traffic scheme was is not meant to cause inconvenience to solo drivers traversing Edsa but a short-term solution of the agency amid the simultaneous infrastructure projects under the government’s “Build, Build, Build” program.
“We need to do something. We cannot just wait for these infrastructure projects that would take three to four years,” said Garcia, adding that “Metro Manila’s traffic problems are already decades old. There is no overnight solution.”
According to Garcia, several bridges in Metro Manila will undergo improvement works, starting this year.
“Set for repairs are Estrella Bridge, Rockwell Bridge, and Binondo Bridge. We are facing a lot of problems. The Guadalupe Bridge will undergo rehabilitation next year,” said Garcia.
Based on the agency’s monitoring, the new traffic scheme eased traffic flow on Edsa during the start of the week-long dry run.
The establishment of HOV lanes on Edsa bans driver only vehicles from traversing Edsa from North Avenue in Quezon City to Magallanes in Makati City during rush hour: 7 am to 10 am and 6 pm to 9 pm on weekdays.
On Wednesday, senators called on the MMDA to suspend the policy.
Senate Resolution No. 845 authored by Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon along with Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto, and Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri said that the traffic scheme was set in place without public consultation and due process.
It also urged the Metro Manila Council and the MMDA to conduct public consultations, further study the ‘driver-only’ ban, and provide for real solutions to Metro Manila traffic congestion.”
Meanwhile, Senator Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III urged the MMDA to exempt senior citizen drivers from its new traffic scheme which prohibits single-occupant vehicles from plying the main EDSA road artery.
“Let’s exempt senior citizen from this rule. Exemption from this traffic scheme means they would be able to reach their destinations easier and faster,” said Pimentel in. statement.
“We should do everything we could to give utmost consideration to the elderly,” he added.
Pimentel said the MMDA should consider seniors as belonging to the special class of citizens entitled to an exemption.
“Commuting in Metro Manila is admittedly very difficult, more so for senior citizens who may not be able to handle the physical stress that comes with taking public transport,” Pimentel added.
“We should do what we can not to add to the physical and mental stresses of our senior citizens, especially those their age who still have the capacity to drive,” he added.
He emphasized that only 8.2% of the population are senior citizens and that the percentage of senior citizen drivers using EDSA is probably even lower.
“This,” according to Pimentel, “will not be a big dent on the target reduction of 70% of vehicular traffic during rush hours.”
He, however, acknowledged that the HOV scheme could be a practical short-term solution to the everyday traffic woes of Metro Manila, but pointed out that the eventual decongestion of EDSA was still dependent on the implementation and installation of a more modern, efficient and comprehensive public transport system.