After daytime carmageddon, EDSA traffic ‘light to moderate’ on Friday night

The Metro Manila Development Authority was pleasantly surprised when traffic on EDSA eased up on Friday night as the Christmas rush went into the weekend.

According to Marisol Abdurahman's report on "State of the Nation with Jessica Soho", the MMDA said traffic on EDSA was generally light to moderate except for the build-up of vehicles near bus terminals.

The MMDA did not expect the traffic situation to ease up until midnight as thousands were headed to the provinces to spend the holidays.

The situation was quite different on EDSA during the daytime, according to the MMDA.

Even motorcycle riders who are used to scoot in between four-wheeled vehicles found it difficult to traverse Metro Manila's main artery.

"Grabe ngayon kaysa noon nakaraang araw... E ngayon grabe. Sobrang traffic. Hindi na gaanong nakakalusot kasi dikit-dikit din eh," a rider told GMA News.

In Makati City, the traffic congestion was so unbearable that some commuters went down from public utility vehicles to walk on Guadalupe Bridge.

The Ayala tunnel also became red with the huge volume of cars and their tail lights. 

The agency has lifted the number coding for private cars beginning December 24 until January 2.

With only three days to go before Christmas, motorists are advised to plan their trips carefully as the traffic rush is only expected to get heavier on major roads. —Margaret Claire Layug/NB, GMA News