CHIZ TO MMDA: COMPLEMENT HPG IN OTHER MAJOR ROADS

For better traffic flow during the remainder of the holidays, Sen. Francis "Chiz" Escudero has called on the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) to deploy its traffic enforcers in Metro Manila's other major arteries to complement their counterparts at the Highway Patrol Group (HPG) stationed along EDSA.

Escudero made the proposal after the lack of traffic enforcers manning other major roads was observed last week, when traffic was expected to be heavy because of Christmas parties and last-minute shopping.

"We have put so much attention on trying to fix the traffic on EDSA and it seems that traffic elsewhere have been overlooked just like last Friday when I received many text and social media messages about the absence of MMDA traffic enforcers on major national Metro Manila roads," the senator said.

He said the MMDA is expected to be better prepared in managing traffic flow in other major intersections in the coming days especially when Christmas rush is anticipated to peak this Wednesday because of city-dwellers' exodus to the provinces.

As such, the senator proposed that for the remaining days before Christmas, the MMDA extend the working hours of its traffic enforcers or to create a temporary rotation scheme wherein major intersections could be manned from morning until 10 p.m.

Traffic along EDSA spread to other major arteries and side streets last Friday that lasted well into the wee hours of Saturday.

Reports said motorists got stuck in heavy traffic on northbound roads leading to Quiapo and on to Quezon City as wells as other highways like Bonifacio Avenue in Caloocan, Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong City, Pasay Road in Makati City, and Quirino Avenue and Osmeña Highway in Manila.

From all the reports he got, Escudero said that most of the traffic was caused by the absence of traffic enforcers at major intersections other than EDSA.

"We should not only focus on traffic management on EDSA but also on other major arteries where continuous horrendous traffic has put a damper on the holiday celebration of our people," the veteran lawmaker said.