Ban private cars on EDSA during rush hours – lawmaker

MANILA, Philippines — Private vehicles should be banned from traversing EDSA during rush hours, a lawmaker proposed yesterday in anticipation of the expected surge of Christmas shoppers.

Caloocan City Rep. Edgar Erice said the major thoroughfare in Metro Manila should be used only by public utility vehicles (PUV) from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

“We should give priority to the workers and those from the middle class families who have no vehicles,” he said.

Erice recommended the proposal during the budget hearing of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA).

He  also proposed to make EDSA a mass transport highway for PUVs after the completion of the Metro Rail Transit- 3 rehabilitation, Metro Manila subway project and a road connecting the northern and southern Luzon expressways.

Celine Pialago, spokesperson for the MMDA, said they welcomed Erice’s proposal to solve traffic jams along EDSA.

Erice said 300,000 private vehicles pass through EDSA daily compared to 8,000 PUVs. 

Emergency powers

Meanwhile, senators supported proposals to grant President Duterte emergency powers to address the worsening traffic congestion in Metro Manila and other parts of the country.

Senators Bong Revilla and Francis Tolentino backed Transportation Secretary Arthur Tugade’s call to have the measure approved by Congress.

Revilla filed yesterday Senate Resolution 133 calling for a national public transport summit to come up with a comprehensive traffic management plan that would lay down short, medium and long term solutions to the traffic crisis.

Tolentino, who filed Senate Bill 213 seeking to grant Duterte emergency powers, said traffic problems should not undermine the capacity of Tugade “to lead the transportation department and perform the duties of his office.”

 Tolentino said Tugade should not be blamed for the traffic mess given the agency’s limited resources and the lack of road space for the increasing number of vehicles. – Paolo Romero, Marc Jayson Cayabyab, Cecille Suerte Felipe