MMDA, 3 cities hold traffic summit

MANILA, Philippines - The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) conducted yesterday what it called a “traffic summit” involving Manila, Quezon City and Makati to iron out kinks in traffic policies and plans affecting the three cities.

The dialogue came in the wake of a move by Manila to ban buses that have no terminals from entering the city.

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino was however, quick to clarify that the dialogue did not intend to iron out friction between the local government units (LGUs) of Quezon City, Makati and Manila over the bus ban.

“This is a reaffirmation of inter-LGU cooperation. The city of Manila will cooperate with Makati and Quezon City,” he said.

Manila Vice Mayor Isko Moreno, who attended the dialogue at the MMDA office, told reporters they expected some flak from the residents of neighboring cities over the bus ban, which was enforced through an ordinance passed by the city council.

New scheme

During yesterday’s dialogue, Manila and Quezon City agreed to relieve the pressure caused by the bus ban by adopting a traffic scheme to control the flow of buses that would not be allowed to enter Manila.

Under the traffic scheme, which would be implemented within this week, buses coming from Fairview by way of Quezon Avenue will turn right at Mayon street, right on N. Roxas, right on D. Tuazon, left on Quezon Avenue and back to Fairview.

Tolentino said the MMDA will install directional signs to guide drivers of buses denied entry into Manila from Quezon City.

Avoiding trouble

Makati Mayor Jejomar Erwin Binay, who also attended yesterday’s dialogue, said had the MMDA held the summit before Manila had implemented its bus ban, residents of adjacent cities would not have been unduly inconvenienced.

Binay said Makati was slightly affected by Manila’s bus ban as buses coming from Laguna and Batangas that were denied entry to Manila turned around on reaching Gil Puyat Avenue from the South Superhighway. This, said Binay, clogged up traffic in the area.

Binay also said the local governments of Manila, Quezon City and Makati vowed to go after “colorum” buses should the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) fail to take immediate action.

He said the other LGUs will also be consulted on the matter during the next meeting of the Metro Manila Council, the MMDA’s policy-making arm.