MANILA — The dry run for the high occupancy vehicle lanes (HOVL) policy along Epifanio delos Santos Avenue (EDSA) begins Wednesday (August 15) and may be implemented on August 23, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
The dry run will end on August 22.
“Target po ma-implement ng August 23. Pero open for possible adjustment magde–depende po sa resulta ng one week dry run (The dry run is tomorrow, target is that this will be implemented on August 23. But this is still open for possible adjustment depending on the result of the one-week dry run),” MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said in a text message to the Philippine News Agency (PNA) Tuesday.
The policy allows vehicles with two or more occupants including the driver to traverse EDSA from North Avenue, Quezon City until Magallanes, Makati City on both northbound and southbound directions from 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. during weekdays, according to MMDA Regulation No. 18-005 released to the media.
Crossing at intersections along the thoroughfare are allowed while a fine of PHP1,000 shall be imposed against the violators once it is fully implemented.
The MMDA has likewise advised motorists that there will be no apprehensions yet for the duration of the dry run period. They will be directed instead to use the first exit intersection/right or left turn to get out of EDSA.
The agency hopes that the HOVL policy will help encourage motorists to use carpooling as a means to ease the traffic congestion in Metro Manila.
Around 60-70 percent of vehicles that pass along EDSA have only single occupants, according to data from the MMDA.
There are 367,738 vehicles traversing the major artery daily, 67 percent of which are private vehicles based on EDSA’s annual average daily traffic on 2017. (Aerol John Pateña/PNA)
