HPG: Christmas rush brings traffic 3 times capacity of EDSA

The Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group on Thursday pointed to the Christmas rush as the main culprit in the worsening traffic situation experienced in Metro Manila over the past few days.

In a radio interview, PNP-HPG head Chief Supt. Arnold Gunancao said they have observed a spike in vehicles traversing EDSA since Tuesday.

"Namonitor po namin yan dahil doon nakikita natin 'yung volume ng sasakyan. Nagkaroon ng counting ang MMDA nakita namin grabe ang dami ng sasakyan ngayon,” he said.

According to Gunnacao, data from the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) showed the numbers for private vehicles exceeding the 120,000 EDSA capacity per hour by three times.

Gunnacao added that public buses playing EDSA increased from 1,200 to at least 7,000 vehicles per direction.

But Gunnacao said the public needs to bear with the traffic situation as they expect it to subside by early next year.

"By January po mag-nonormalize po siguro [ang traffic], mga second week pa," he said.

"Holiday season lamang yan pero after niyan balik po 'yan sa dati kasi karamihan ng sasakyan babalik po yan sa probinsiya kasi 'yung mga nagshoshopping dito sa Maynila babalik po sa kanilang mga lugar," he said.

Gunnacao said they were eyeing the Mabuhay lanes as a potential solution to the traffic situation but noted that most of the public remain unaware of this scheme.

“Tuloy-tuloy po yan ang siste po ay karamihan ng mamamayan natin ay di po kabisado ang Mabuhay lanes. Sa meeting namin kanina mag lalabas po ng anunsyo kung saan ang Mabuhay lanes para alam ng ating mga mamamayan,” he said.

Government moves

Gunnacao also said that malls' extended operating hours have somehow helped in addressing the traffic situation.

“Kahit papano may epekto 'yung sa mall kasi dati nakikisabay sila sa paguwi [ng tao]. Medyo nababawas-bawasan na po ng konti [ngayon dahil sa extended mall hours]. Kung sasabay sila sa uwian di na po gagalaw ang sasakyan halos,” he said.

The government earlier reached an agreement with mall operators to extend their operating hours.

The MMDA, for its part, relaunched its bike-sharing service on Tuesday.

“Nakita natin 'yung demand. So nagdagdag tayo ng mga bagong bikes ngayon para ma supplyan natin 'yung demand sa nag bi-bike,” MMDA Chairman Atty. Emerson Carlos said.

The Department of Transportation and Communications, meanwhile, has given special permits to holiday express buses last Saturday. These buses only travel from point to point.

The three routes of the holiday express buses are:

Route A1: Trinoma, North EDSA – Park Square Terminal, Ayala Center (P60.00)
Route A2: SM North EDSA – Glorietta 5, Ayala Center (P64.00)

Route B: SM Megamall – Park Square Terminal, Ayala Center (P40.00)

—Drei Medina/JST, GMA News