Metro Manila (CNN Philippines) — A number of commuters and drivers suffer daily from the extremely slow traffic on EDSA.
Supposedly a local issue, President Benigno Aquino III has taken it upon himself to find a solution to Metro Manila’s traffic jams.
He ordered immediate implementation of clearing traffic congestion on six major chokepoints on EDSA — Taft Avenue, Guadalupe, Shaw Boulevard, Ortigas, Cubao, and Balintawak.
‘ ‘5’:
The new lead traffic enforcer on EDSA is the Highway Patrol Group (HPG), a unit of the Philippine National Police (PNP) that was formerly called Traffic Management Group (TMG). Before 1995, it was the TMG that managed EDSA traffic.
The role was eventually transferred to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to avoid the overlapping of traffic enforcement roles. The MMDA could also deal with complaints of extortion.
In an interview on Wednesday (September 2), Supt. Oliver Tanseco, HPG spokesperson, said: “But right now with the orders from the president himself, the HPG is back on EDSA, we’ll make sure that there’s improvement on EDSA — of course, with the help of our motorists who must observe traffic laws.”
The HPG will now enforce MMDA’s traffic rules — but much more strictly.
“Traffic on EDSA is actually here to stay,” Tanseco said. “This is mainly due to the volume of vehicles traveling to and from EDSA. But we’ll see to it that delays or traffic caused by illegal stopping, illegal loading, and unloading, those who have used EDSA as their station to get passengers will be reduced.”
Beginning on Monday (September 7), 96 armed HPG members will be deployed to six major chokepoints — round the clock, seven days a week.
The group ‘s target?
Make EDSA a no-nonsense traffic discipline zone.
But motorists should do their part in complying with road rules.
