MMDA discourages use of alternate routes, says TNVS unloading on EDSA can take nearest exit

Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) General Manager Jojo Garcia discouraged Wednesday the use of alternative routes in light of their ban on driver-only vehicles during rush hours on EDSA.

"Hindi po natin ineenganyo yung mga kababayan nating motorista na mag-alternate route kasi ililipat lang natin yung traffic sa looban, mawawala sa EDSA," Garcia said in an interview on Dobol B sa News TV.

Garcia said their main objective for the ban was to encourage carpooling to reduce the volume of vehicles on the major thoroughfare.

"Pero hindi rin po namin sila ineencourage na magsakay ng strangers. Ang gusto namin, kung pamilya kayo, iba't iba kayong sasakyan, baka pwedeng isa na lang," he explained.

"Kung kayo ay magkaklase, isa lang ang pupuntahan niyo o officemate kayo. Ito po ang target natin para mabawasan ng volume yung ating mga kalsada," Garcia continued.

Crossing, unloading on EDSA

He repeated that vehicles may cross EDSA and that transport network vehicle service (TNVS) may only use the road if they have passengers on-board.

"Kung sila po maghahatid sa EDSA, pwede po yan. Hatid po nila, 'pag baba ng pasahero, yung nearest exit po, pwede silang lumabas," Garcia said.

Rush hours were defined by the MMDA as 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. in the morning and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the evening.

Garcia urged motorists to participate in the dry run scheme to maximize its effects and to enable the MMDA to effectively decide on whether or not to permanently implement the policy.

The MMDA aims to implement the policy completely, with a no contact policy for apprehensions, on August 23 but the date may change depending on the evaluation of the dry run. — Rie Takumi/MDM, GMA News