DAILY JAM Vehicles crawl as they approach the intersection of EDSA and Kamuning Road, one of the choke points identified by the Palace. PHOTO BY  MIKE DE JUAN
DAILY JAM Vehicles crawl as they approach the intersection of EDSA and Kamuning Road, one of the choke points identified by the Palace. PHOTO BY MIKE DE JUAN

TO address worsening traffic gridlocks in Metro Manila, a new traffic scheme will be implemented along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (Edsa) starting Monday.

Under the new traffic scheme to be jointly implemented by the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB), provincial utility buses (PUBs) will not be allowed to ply Edsa.

From 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., provincial buses will be rerouted to C-5 Road.

Hernando Cabrera, LTFRB executive director, on Friday said all PUBs with terminals along Edsa will be obliged to turn left at P. Tuazon (Southbound) and proceed to C-5.

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From C-5, PUBs will exit at the South Luzon Expressway (Slex).

MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino said the truck lane along C-5 will be used by the provincial buses during the window hour.

The scheme will take off at least 130 buses from the major road network during rush hours.

The Provincial Operators Association of the Philippines (POAP) supported the traffic scheme.

POAP president Alex Yague said they will cooperate with the implementing agencies by policing their ranks.

“This is for the good of everybody,” Yague added.

Starting on Monday, members of the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) will manage traffic along Edsa.

HPG director Chief Supt. Arnold Gunnacao said 150 traffic policemen will be deployed in Balintawak, Cubao, Ortigas, Shaw Blvd., Guadalupe and Pasay-Taft.

Pointman

Cabinet Secretary Jose Rene Almendras will act as the government’s point man in easing traffic in Metro Manila (National Capital Region or NCR), Malacañang said also on Friday.

Presidential Communications Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said Almendras will continue to coordinate with all government moves aimed at addressing monstrous traffic jams in NCR.

“As Cabinet Secretary, Secretary Almendras is tasked with coordinating inter-agency concerns. As he did with respect to the port congestion issue, he is now coordinating Cabinet action on easing the Metro Manila traffic situation,” the Palace official added.

Almendras will be coordinating deployment of Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (PNP-HPG) personnel who have been given the lead task in managing traffic.

According to Coloma, the HPG will be the lead force in implementing new and old traffic rules, especially along EDSA where traffic gridlocks are most prevalent.

“The MMDA, LTO [Land Transportation Office] and LTFRB will support HPG as lead force,” the official said in a text message.

When asked if MMDA traffic enforcers who used to man every corner of Metro Manila streets will be called back to their head office or redeployed, Coloma replie, “MMDA will be redeployed in C5, Roxas Blvd. and other major thoroughfares.”