Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, March 29) — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said it would need at least three months to determine if the implementation of an exclusive motorcycle lane along Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City had a positive impact on traffic in the area.
“Hindi pa namin ma-assess o ma-compare yung luma at bagong polisiya dahil dalawang araw pa lang ang pagpapatupad… Sa ngayon ang nararanasan pa natin ay ang birth pains kasama sa pagpapatupad ng bagong polisiya,” MMDA spokesperson Melissa Carunungan said on Wednesday.
“At the very least, kailangan pa namin ng mga tatlong buwan para magkaroon ng substantial assessment,” she also said.
[Translation: We cannot yet assess or compare the old and new policies because it’s only been in place for two days… Right now, we are experiencing birth pains from the enforcement of the new policy. At the very least, we need at least three months to have a substantial assessment.]
On Monday, the first day the new policy was enforced, Carunungan said there were 1,739 apprehensions. Of this number, 706 were motorcycles and 1,033 were four-wheeled vehicles.
Numbers were down on Tuesday with 563 apprehensions — 402 motorcycles and 161 four-wheeled vehicles.
Carunungan also said enforcers have been deployed to help with the new policy, but were not on 24-hour duty. They are on the job until 10 p.m.
“Isang challenge ng MMDA Quezon City ay pagbatanay ng exclusive lane sa gabi kasi delikado na para sa traffic enforcers,” she said.
“Ang utos po galing kay Chairman (Romando) Artes at ang Traffic Discipline Office ay unahin ang kaligtasan ng traffic enforcers pag gabi na,” Carunungan added.
