EDSA toll makes sense – MMDA exec

MANILA, Philippines — An official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said the proposal to impose a toll on EDSA “makes sense” to reduce the volume of vehicles along the traffic-choked highway.

“It makes sense. But if it is viable, I really don’t know… But the idea is good, I think its feasible, if we really want it. But economically, I don’t want to speculate on that one,” MMDA general manager Jojo Garcia said in an interview with “The Chiefs” on OneNews / TV5 on Friday night.

By imposing a toll on motorists on EDSA, those who are not in a hurry or who are outside on leisure can opt to use side streets or other thoroughfares instead, but of course this could mean traffic would spill over elsewhere, Garcia said.

He chose not to comment if it would be a “viable” option for traffic control in the time of pandemic, but agreed that the imposition of a toll could reduce the number of vehicles choking the busy 23.8-kilometer highway serving as Metro Manila’s main artery.

The MMDA would listen to all proposals seeking to improve traffic along EDSA and other major roads, Garcia said.

The Department of Transportation, in a statement, has clarified that DOTr Assistant Secretary Alberto Suansing’s proposal was not yet discussed in its plans.

Suansing earlier told “The Chiefs” of a plan to install a toll system along EDSA next year once public transportation is fixed, as a revenue-generating and volume reduction measure.

He backtracked later in a Teleradyo interview that an electronic road pricing scheme along EDSA is not yet on the DOTr’s “radar screen.”