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You won’t believe what the PH govt is planning to resolve #EDSATraffic

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EDSA-traffic-worst

File Photo: Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) is pictured here on a busy evening in 2014. Traffic congestion has been a long ongoing problem for the government and a hassle to commuters in the Philippine capital where 12 million people live. Photo Credit: CarGuide.ph

MANILA – The Philippine government is planning on banning private vehicles with less than four passengers to traverse Epifanio de los Santos Avenue or most commonly known to commuters as EDSA, an article published on ABS-CBNNews’ affiliate DZMM.com.ph said Tuesday.

According to the article, the plan was first mentioned during a budget deliberations meeting to grant the Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) their requested budget for the year 2016, as one of the solutions the agency is currently considering to resolve the growing problem in traffic congestion along EDSA, Metro Manila’s busiest thoroughfare.

The news came out following the Department of Public Works and Highways’ request for a P391 billion for their 2016 budget, said the DZMM report.

DPWH Secretary Rogelio Singson was quoted as saying that his agency is “seriously contemplating the implementation of carpooling along EDSA” where vehicles that don’t contain at least four passengers will be prohibited and dealt with according to law.

The consensus is based on the assumptions that cars with less than four passengers can choose alternative routes. Great, so now people would need to find an alternative and possibly longer route even if their destination is literally located along EDSA? Seriously, we cannot help but applaud this utterly intelligent decision from the said government agency.

Another suggestion from the DPWH is to increase the number of express buses traversing the Trinoma-Makati route to help out the growing number of commuters which consists primarily of middle class professionals, students and call center agents. Yes, you heard it right. They are increasing the number of buses in EDSA. It is as if this agency does not see that the main thoroughfare is already jammed with a lot of metro and provincial buses. What a brilliant idea!

Netizens reacted to the news in dismay with some commentators sarcastically calling the plan as a “very intelligent move” from the government. Some even suggested that the government use the P391 billion fund they are asking to buy “functional brains” to give them clarity on what the real problem is and where their focus should be.

On a lighter note, ongoing projects such as the Skyway 3 which will benefit commuters and motorists coming from the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx) to South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) are good, if only it would be finished soon. The project is set to get completed in 2018.

On Tuesday night, thousands of motorists and commuters were left stranded for several hours across Metro Manila particularly along EDSA due to a sudden downpour. Many roads were flooded which left them impassable and eight hours later, at past 2 a.m. Wednesday, many on their way home were still on the road either stuck in commuter buses or just waiting for the flood to subside.

Even PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez did not escape the notorious EDSA traffic as his convoy got stuck in it while they are traversing the southbound lane of Edsa Cubao from Balintawak area. This came after the Philippine National Police (PNP) received a “congratulations” from President Benigno Aquino III for doing a job “well done” in managing the perennial traffic congestion on Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) highway through their newly formed Highway Patrol Group (HPG), who were fielded to man six choke points or the problem areas on the busy thoroughfare.

Do you agree that less than four passenger private vehicles should be banned in EDSA? How about adding more commuter buses? Express your comment below.


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