Palace asks for public’s kind understanding after Tuesday night Carmageddon

Malacañang on Wednesday sought the “kind understanding” of the public over the traffic mess in Metro Manila as it assured that efforts are underway to avoid a repeat of Tuesday’s “Carmageddon.”
 
In a statement sent to the media, Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said heavy rains and flash floods caused the slowdown of vehicle movement along EDSA and other major thoroughfares.
 
“Government’s efforts to improve traffic flow along EDSA and major thoroughfares were greatly hindered last night by heavy rains and flash floods that were experienced during the rush hour of homeward-bound commuting,” Coloma said.
 
He said it was past 11 p.m. when the normal flow of vehicles resumed after the flash floods have subsided.
 
“We understand the plight of many who were stranded and delayed considerably in reaching their homes and destinations and we seek their kind understanding,” the Palace official said.
 
Netizens took to social media to complain about the traffic congestion along EDSA and other Metro Manila roads Tuesday night.
 
The Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) admitted that they themselves were caught off guard by the heavy downpour.
 
Starting this week, the PNP-HPG has taken over the management of traffic along EDSA upon the instructions of President Benigno Aquino III.
 
According to Coloma, PNP-HPG personal diverted traffic on flooded streets to alternate routes while MMDA personnel were deployed even past midnight to assist in normalizing the flow of traffic. —NB, GMA News