Following the dry-run of the single passenger ban on EDSA by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) yesterday, the Palace said the public should give it a chance since it is a possible solution to the traffic in the Metro.
In a Palace press briefing Thursday, August 16, Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque, Jr. said that MMDA’s intention of implementing this traffic scheme on EDSA is good and should be considered given the big volume of cars traversing the road during rush hours.
The Palace official added that this scheme is patterned after the United States, where it has been deemed successful as mechanism to easing traffic congestion.
“Maganda naman po ang hangarin ng MMDA na mabawasan ang sasakyan sa EDSA. Ito naman po ay ginaya na rin natin doon sa experience ng ibang bansa gaya ng Estados Unidos,” Roque said.
“Sa Estados Unidos po talaga mayroon talaga silang oras na devoted din doon sa tinatawag nilang express lane na dapat minimum of two passengers,” he added.
This measure, according to the Palace spokesperson, is a valid exercise of police power by the state, hence there will be no violations of any rights.
“Talagang police power lang po ‘yan para mabawasan ang kotse sa kalye at para makapagtipid din po sa gasolina at diesel,” Roque said, adding that this is also implemented in other countries and no discrimination nor rights curtailed have been recorded.
“Ginagawa po ‘yan sa America at sa ibang lugar sa daigdig. Hindi po tayo ang kauna-unahang nag-experimento diyan. So, tignan po natin kung magiging epektibo ‘yan. Subukan naman po natin,” he noted.
Secretary Roque further said this will encourage people to resort to carpooling thereby lessening the volumes of car on the road and reducing the gasoline expenses.
“‘Pag may carpooling kasi less cars on the road at siyempre patuloy pataas ang gasolina, makakatipid din tayo sa gasolina,” he said.
“So, let’s give it a chance. Lahat naman po in-explore natin para magkaroon ng solusyon dito sa problema ng traffic,” Roque added.
Meanwhile, in time for the first year death anniversary of Kian de los Santos, Roque reiterated the stance of the Palace regarding the war on drugs and the use of force by the police.
“The death anniversary is significant because this incident led to the President’s clarification on his official pronouncement on the drug war. He will support the police if the killing is legal. He will prosecute the police if the killing is illegal,” Roque said.
“That’s the importance of this year’s commemoration. It’s a warning to all policemen to make sure that they use force when there is absolute necessity and when it is proportional. Otherwise, they will be prosecuted,” he added.
‘Palace welcomes DOF report that PH economy will grow faster in second half of 2018’
In the same press briefing, Presidential Spokesperson Roque likewise relayed the good news that the country’s economy is set to grow faster in the second half of 2018.
Citing a Department of Finance report, Roque said the faster growth expectation in the said timeframe could be attributed to the government’s high expenditure, tax effort, exports of goods and services.
“(G)overnment will sustain these very promising economic numbers for the remaining half of 2018 in order to provide better jobs and more comfortable lives for more Filipinos,” he assured. (PCO-Content)
