The Department of Transportation (DOTr) and the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) insisted that incidents involving vehicles hitting the concrete barriers in EDSA are isolated cases.
According to MMDA EDSA Traffic Management Unit Chief Col. Edison Bong Nebrija, such incidents can be avoided if buses follow the 50 kph speed limit. The MMDA reported that almost 300 buses pass through EDSA every day and 50 buses travel vice versa for 4 times. In total, bus travels reach 2,000. Only one accident is reported out of the said number of travels.
“’Iyon ang sinasabi namin na they keep on blaming things for their neglect (That’s what we are saying that they keep on blaming things for their neglect),” Col. Nebrija pointed out.
Nebrija told the director of the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) to immediately charge those who hit the barriers of reckless imprudence resulting in damage of government property.
In relation to this, DOTr Senior Consultant Engr. Bert Suansing stated that the bus lane was intended to be narrow so that bus drivers will not go over the speed limit. The DOTr encouraged bus companies to implement and put speed limiters in their units.
Meanwhile, the department will “interlock” the concrete barriers to keep them more stable. – Report from Karen Villanda
