Poor infrastructure led to Tuesday traffic mess –Palace

Malacanang on Friday admitted that Tuesday night's "carmageddon" along EDSA and other major thoroughfares in Metro Manila was caused by poor road and flood control infrastructure.

Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma, Jr. said this even as he defended the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the agency previously tasked to manage the traffic along EDSA, from criticisms following the heavy traffic that followed Tuesday night's sudden heavy downpour.

"The severe traffic congestion that was triggered by heavy rains and flash floods clearly showed the inadequacy of existing road and flood control infrastructure that will take time to be scaled up," Coloma said.

But he said that for the past years, the MMDA was able to carry out its duties in terms of flood control, declogging of drainage systems, and clearing road obstructions.

The PNP-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) has been tasked, starting this week, as the lead agency to improve traffic flow along EDSA.  

Coloma said traffic enforcers will have to "work doubly hard to improve their responsiveness" in the event of a repeat of Tuesday's traffic nightmare for commuters and motorists following a heavy downpour in the metro.

Meanwhile, deputy presidential spokesperson Abigail Valte said the Aquino government has yet to discuss whether MMDA and local government officials should be held accountable for failing to do their part in traffic management.

"Perhaps that can be a discussion for a later time," she said. "Right now efforts are concentrated on measures to alleviate the situation." —KBK, GMA News