MANILA, Philippines — In a bid to ease the impact of traffic during the rehabilitation of EDSA, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday announced that it was going to recommend adjusted work hours for employees working in national government agencies (NGAs) to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
The MMDA cited a survey where NGA workers had a 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. work schedule and "noted a positive effect on the traffic flow."
It also said that adopting the schedule would bring "faster travel time" during the peak hours in the major thoroughfares of Metro Manila, and decrease delays in traffic.
"NGA employees using private vehicles during peak hours will be distributed by 37.15 percent of the 473,533 employees. This rate is equivalent to an estimate of 175,918 employees. Further, 47.20 percent of the total number of NGA employees, or an estimate of 223,508 employees using public transport will avoid joining rush hour alongside private sector employees," the MMDA said in a statement, citing the same survey.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday, MMDA Chairman Don Artes said he would submit a report and recommendation to the Office of the President once he got a consensus from Metro Manila LGUs on their experiences with the adjusted hours and hoped to finish the before March, which is when the EDSA rehabilitation is expected to start.
"We'll get first the consensus of the mayors. We'll coordinate with them and ask them what their preference is so that the data we'll be submitting to the President is complete and the recommendations will be in line with various experiences of each of the LGUs," Artes told reporters.
During the briefing, San Juan City Mayor and MMC President Francis Zamora, as well as Pasay City Mayor Emi Calixto-Rubiano expressed their support because of its "positive effects" on traffic.