YEARENDER:Traffic nightmares, scandal mark 2015 for MMDA

MANILA, Philippines – “Carmageddon,” “Playgirls” and “APEC” would definitely be remembered as the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) words of the year.

The traffic situation in Metro Manila, particularly on the 23.8-kilometer stretch of EDSA – the metropolis’ main artery – became so bad that the President had removed traffic management control from then MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino and handed it over to Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras as the new “traffic czar.”

At the same time, the President also designated the Philippine National Police’s Highway Patrol Group (HPG) as the main agency in charge of the traffic management on EDSA and on several major roads.

HPG officers on motorcyles and patrol cars rolled out of Camp Crame in the wee hours of Sept. 7, 2015 and took charge of EDSA. The MMDA traffic enforcers who had previously held control of the highway were turned into assistants.

When it rains

A strong and continuous downpour two days later tested the mettle of the HPG officers as EDSA suddenly found itself in the grip of a “carmageddon,” the scale of which was reminiscent of a Hollywood disaster movie.

At almost midnight, vehicles barely moved on the southbound lane of EDSA while a sea of commuters waited for the few buses and taxis on the highway’s northbound lane.

The MMDA blamed flash floods for the traffic gridlock that left almost a thousand commuters and motorists stranded on EDSA.

Since the takeover of the HPG on EDSA, Almendras also took charge of a technical working group that is tasked to find solutions to the evolving traffic woes of EDSA.

Among the measures taken by the technical working group was the clearing of “mabuhay” lanes or alternate routes motorists can take to avoid EDSA.

The technical working group in coordination with the Department of Transportation and Communication (DOTC) has also implemented a rapid point-to-point bus service between malls in Quezon City and Makati for the benefit of holiday shoppers.

Earlier in the year, the DOTC and the MMDA have also implemented a similar express bus service that takes commuters from Fairview in Quezon City directly either to the Ortigas business district or the Makati central business district. The measure was aimed at relieving commuter load from the already congested Metro Rail Transit (MRT) service.

Senate bid 

On Sept. 29, then MMDA chairman Tolentino publicly declared his bid for the Senate in next year’s elections after securing the endorsement of the Mayors’ League and all the local executives of Cavite.

No less than Cavite Rep. Lani Mercado-Revilla, Cavite Gov. Janvic Remulla and Cavite Vice Gov. Jolo Revilla led officials who crossed party lines in raising Tolentino’s arms following his announcement at a restaurant in Manila.

Following his announcement, Tolentino designated MMDA assistant general manager for operations Emerson Carlos as officer-in-charge. Tolentino then went on an extended leave from office.

The President would later appoint Carlos as the permanent MMDA chairman after Tolentino formally filed his letter of resignation and filed his certificate of candidacy on Oct. 12 as an independent candidate.

Apologies

Tolentino’s entrance to the Senate race was however without controversy as he reaped public ire over his alleged “delivery” of the Playgirls, a group of sexy female dancers, as a “gift” to a Liberal Party event in Sta. Cruz, Laguna on Sept. 30.

Tolentino later issued a public apology for what had happened and asked that the Liberal Party remove his name from the list of candidates to be supported by the party.

The Playgirls performed after the oathtaking of new LP members. The event’s emcee announced that the sexy group’s performance was a gift of Tolentino for Laguna Rep. Benjie Agarao’s birthday, which the then MMDA chairman had denied.

TrAPEC

The country’s hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders summit in Manila last month for two days also earned the public’s ire after both Roxas Boulevard and EDSA were closed to vehicular traffic.

On Nov. 17 - the summit’s first day – heavy traffic greeted motorists and commuters.

Motorists and commuters found themselves trapped either at the entrance of Roxas Boulevard from Cavite or along EDSA.

With vehicles barred from entering Roxas Boulevard from Cavite, passengers of buses were forced to get off and walk towards their destinations along Roxas Boulevard. 

Traffic along EDSA was also disrupted by surprise “stop and go” traffic stops implemented by the MMDA and the HPG.

During these “stop and go” traffic stops, motorists were stopped for 20 minutes prior to the passing of the convoy of an APEC dignitary and then for another 10 minutes after the convoy had passed.