Government execs snub Senate traffic probe

MANILA, Philippines - Cabinet members and heads of key agencies were a no-show yesterday as a Senate committee convened to discuss the worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila.

Secretary to the Cabinet Jose Rene Almendras, Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson, Interior Secretary Manuel Roxas II, Finance Secretary Cesar Purisima, Trade Secretary Gregorio Domingo and Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Francis Tolentino were all absent at the public hearing conducted by the committee.

A miffed Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito, chairman of the Senate economic affairs committee, slammed the absence of the government officials.

“I would like to express once again my disappointment this afternoon for the failure of the different heads of agencies to appear in this hearing. Hindi naman tayo naglolokohan dito eh (We’re not fooling around here). This is the Senate. They sent undersecretaries and assistant secretaries,” Ejercito said.

Ejercito asked MMDA Undersecretary Corazon Jimenez if they can decide for their respective agencies.  

Jimenez pointed out that Tolentino was currently meeting with Almendras and officials of the Highway Patrol Group, purportedly to review the first day of deployment of HPG personnel as lead traffic enforcers along EDSA.

“But I think, this is also equally important. We would want to hear from the different agencies about the problem so we will be able to assess, especially now that it’s budget season,” Ejercito said.

Sen. Bam Aquino echoed Ejercito’s concern, but added that he received a call from Almendras, who apologized for not being able to attend the Senate hearing since they needed to look into the implementation of the HPG deployment along EDSA.

Lifting of number coding pushed

In the same hearing, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) chairman Winston Ginez said he has recommended during their meeting with President Aquino and the Cabinet cluster to lift the number coding for city buses.

According to Ginez, his recommendation was an offshoot of the discussion on how to decongest EDSA, where vehicle volume is almost thrice its designed capacity.

Undersecretary Raul Asis of the Department of Public Works and Highways said there are now 1,500 cars plying EDSA per hour per lane in one direction.

“What restricts the free flow of traffic are the chokepoints,” he said.

There is an estimated 10 million trips a day along EDSA, with the large percentage done by private vehicles which comprise about 70 percent of total vehicle volume.

Ginez maintained that the number of city buses “are still inadequate” to address the needs of commuters.  

City buses plying EDSA are pegged at 3,885 units.

Citing a JICA study, former Land Transportation Office chairman Alberto Suansing said only 1,000 units are needed along EDSA.  

The LTFRB said there are about 1,500 buses passing along EDSA everyday although there are an estimated 8,471 provincial buses with permits.

Annie Giron, president of the PS Link group, called for the resignation of Tolentino, while business groups represented by the American Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce discussed the impact of traffic in investments.

Ejercito lamented that Dream 2030 on the Roadmap for Metro Manila and mega Manila will remain a “dream” since the government seems to be lacking political will to speed up infrastructure projects, especially the construction of more roads to accommodate the high volume of vehicles along EDSA and major thoroughfares in the metropolis.