Abalos meets with LGUs, barangay chiefs on traffic woes

MANILA, Philippines — Secretary Benhur Abalos of the Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG) has met with representatives of 17 mayors and at least 200 barangay officials to address the traffic problems in Metro Manila.

Abalos said the dialogue, which was held in Barangay Holy Spirit, Quezon City, was part of a series of consultations with local government units (LGUs) where issues on traffic and transportation were discussed.

He said among the issues discussed were the planned regulation of e-tricycles and e-bicycles, the implementation of barangay road clearing operations and street pay parking ordinances of the LGUs.

According to Abalos, the results of the consultation will be presented to President Marcos during the Regional Town Hall Meeting on Traffic Management on March 25.

“We were tasked by the President to go down to the grassroots and discuss the problems on traffic and transportation. We want to determine the possible solutions from various sectors,” Abalos said.

He added he has met with officials of the Land Transportation Office, Department of Energy and Department of Transportation to discuss traffic concerns in the National Capital Region.

“All of these are being studied by the technical working group and will be submitted to the President. For the meantime, there will be a status quo to prevent problems,” Abalos said.

During the dialogue, Abalos said registration and driver’s license are required for anyone who owns and drives e-vehicles with a speed limit of 26 to 50 kilometers per hour.

“This kind of information should be cascaded on the ground as there were instances that children used e-bikes and e-trikes,” he said.

Abalos also directed LGUs to remind their respective councils of their role under Section 11 of Republic Act 11697, otherwise known as the Electric Vehicle Industry Development Act or EVIDA Law.

He said the green routes should be included in their respective Local Public Transport Route Plans consistent with the National Transport Policy.