MALACAÑANG on Thursday said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) might amend the High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) scheme that the agency tested on Wednesday.
In a statement, Special Assistant to the President Christopher Lawrence “Bong” Go said the MMDA will look into amending the scheme.
Go said MMDA chairman Danilo Lim told him that feedback from the public prompted the agency to review HOV.
“If it will help solve the traffic problem in Metro Manila then it is OK. That is why we’re having a dry run: we’ll see first if it will really help, if it would ease traffic. If not, then we can improve it,” Go said.
Go added that MMDA officials will look into presenting their plans to resolve the traffic problem to President Rodrigo Duterte.
Duterte, in his first State of the Nation Address, asked for emergency powers to solve the traffic problem.
Palace spokesman Harry Roque Jr. urged the public to give HOV a chance.|
The traffic scheme prohibits driver-only vehicles from passing through the Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. on weekdays.
“The MMDA has a good intention, to lessen the cars in Edsa. This has been going on in other countries, like the United States. In the United States, there is a specific time devoted for the express lanes, only for the cars with a minimum of two passengers. This is where the MMDA patterned their scheme,” Roque said in a press briefing.
He said the scheme encourages carpooling, which would lessen the volume of cars traversing the highway during rush hours.
“So, let’s give it a chance, as we are exploring all options to find the solution on the traffic problem,” he added.
Exempt the elderly
Sen. Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel on Thursday urged the MMDA to exempt senior citizens from the HOV.
The senator said the elderly comprised only 8.2 percent of the population and the percentage of senior citizens plying Edsa “is probably even lower.”
This would not be a big dent on the target reduction of 70 percent of vehicular traffic during rush hours, he said.
“Let’s exempt senior citizens from this rule. Exemption from this traffic scheme means they would be able to reach their destinations easier and faster. We should do everything we could to give utmost consideration to the elderly,” Pimentel said.
“Commuting in Metro Manila is admittedly very difficult, moreso for senior citizens who my not be able to handle the physical stress that comes with taking public transport,” he added.
The senator said the HOV scheme could be a practical short-term solution to traffic woes in Metro Manila. “But the eventual decongestion of Edsa is still dependent on the implementation of a more modern, efficient and comprehensive public transport system.”
The Senate on Wednesday adopted a resolution urging the recall and suspension of the traffic scheme.
With reports from BERNADETTE E. TAMAYO