By Ruth Abbey Gita-Carlos | Philippine News Agency
Malacañang on Wednesday said concerned government agencies are working to address traffic congestion in Metro Manila, especially during the holiday season.
In a press briefing, Palace Press Officer Claire Castro said the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), Department of Transportation (DOTr) and other concerned agencies understand President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to act on long-standing congestion problems.
Castro said some congestion issues are difficult to address immediately, especially during the Christmas season, but stressed that interventions are ongoing.
“Alam naman din po ng MMDA, alam din po ng DOTr, alam din po ng ating ahensya kung ano ang nais ng Pangulo. Dapat lahat ng problema magawan ng solusyon,” she said.
“May mga instances na hindi agad-agad kayang solusyunan, especially kapag trapik kapag ganitong season. Pero ginagawan po ng paraan, katulad ng sinabi ni MMDA Chair Don Artes,” she added.
Artes, who joined the press conference through Zoom, noted that the volume of vehicles plying across Metro Manila is “extremely high,” reaching 450,000 vehicles on EDSA alone—more than its 250,000 capacity.
He said the MMDA is also addressing several factors, including the Department of Public Works and Highways’ anti-overloading operations that inadvertently obstruct lanes; uncoordinated truck ban policies among LGUs; simultaneous mall sales producing a surge of exiting vehicles; and motorists counterflowing, overwhelming traffic enforcers.
He said the MMDA has intensified clearing operations along Mabuhay Lanes and is urging commuters to use mass transportation.
To accommodate more passengers, he said the MMDA has coordinated with the DOTr to extend Metro Rail Transit (MRT), Light Rail Transit (LRT) and other public transport’s operating hours.
“Ini-encourage natin ang ating mga kababayan na gumamit ng bus carousel, MRT at LRT,” Artes said.
He said the MMDA has already convened local governments of Marikina, Pasig, Quezon City, Cainta and Antipolo to propose mitigating measures.
An ocular inspection is also scheduled to finalize coordinated traffic responses, Artes said, adding that the MMDA will deploy more enforcers, with LGUs committing additional personnel to support traffic rule enforcement.
