MMDA opposes proposal to clear EDSA of private cars during morning rush

The Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) is against the proposal to ban private vehicles on EDSA from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. four days a week in a bid to ease heavy traffic on the main thoroughfare, a report from GMA's “24-Oras” program said Tuesday.

MMDA Chairman Atty. Francis Tolentino said the ban on private vehicles, if approved, would affect the country's economy.

 

“Lalabag na ito sa ilang karapatan hindi lang ng ating private car users kung 'di ng drivers of growth ng ating ekonomiya na pumupunta sa central business district ng Makati, Ortigas at BGC,” hesaid.

 

Tolentino indicated that there was a need for private vehicles as long as there was no advanced public transit system in Metro Manila.

 

Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board member Ariel Inton made the proposal private vehicles to be banned during the morning rush.

 

The scheme banned private vehicles from EDSA during rush hours, four times a week from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. 

 

“'Yun pong mga may kotse mas marami po diyan, may option na gumamit ng ibang kalye samantalang 'yung mga public transportation natin may sariling mga ruta yan sa kanilang prangkisa. Pagkatapos ng peak hours puwede na ulit lahat ng private vehicles [sa EDSA],” Inton said.

 

Inton's proposal got the nod from Elvira Medina of the National center for Commuter Safety and Protection.

 

“We support it 101 percent because we are very happy that for the first time somebody thought of a very refreshing solution which we think can really help the commuters a lot,” Medina said.

 

Based on MMDA data, there are 272,965 cars that ply EDSA daily. These cars compose eight of ten vehicles on Metro Manila's main thoroughfare. —Andrei Medina/NB, GMA News