HOV is ‘wrong approach’ to solving traffic woes – commuters group

While they acknowledged the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority's (MMDA's) sincere effort to solve the capital's traffic problems, a commuters group argued that the agency's approach, particularly the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) scheme, was unsound.

"In general the MMDA has all the best intention pagdating sa kanilang mandate, whoever sits as the chairman there. But sometimes the approach is wrong," said Lawyers for Commuters Safety and Protection head Ariel Inton on Monday's episode of GMA News digital show "Fact or Fake with Joseph Morong".

"Pangalawa hindi pa masyadong napagaaralan 'yung polisiya pero ina-announce na," Inton added. "People take MMDA seriously na kapag may mga announcement na ganyan, siyempre ang alam ng tao, i-implement na 'yan."

MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago defended the HOV plan, pointing out that the agency merely wanted to instill carpooling in the public, and for drivers to use alternative routes.

"Okay, driver ka, wala kang mai-car pool. Hindi naman ho pwedeng... solo ka galing kang probinsya, naka-condo ka dito. You're not even in a relationship, literal. Sa office po loner ka, you don't have friends... That's the time po you have to take alternate routes," said Pialago.

"Ang gusto lang natin i-emphasize dito sa HOV lanes natin eh 'yung carpooling."

MMDA General Manager Arturo Garcia meanwhile explained that his agency was merely developing temporary solutions for the traffic problem while waiting for the long-term ones.

"Kaya nga minsan naghamon kami, daming bumabatikos. Sabi ko nga kanina, nagtuturuan ang sectors kung sino magsasakripisyo pero sila ayaw nila. So sabi ko gusto niyo dry run tayo one week," Garcia said.

Last week, the MMDA decided to defer the implementation of the ban on driver-only vehicles on EDSA during rush hours after the policy drew flak from the public and lawmakers.

The agency will keep the HOV scheme in the dry-run phase indefinitely. — Anna Felicia Bajo/DVM, GMA News