Over 3,000 flagged in trial ban

A traffic enforcer accosts a motorist at EDSA during the trial run of the High Occupancy Vehicle scheme. ANALY LABOR

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority yesterday flagged nearly 3,000 violators on the first day of a week-long dry run of the single occupancy ban policy along Epifanio de los Santos Avenue (EDSA).

At a press briefing, MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said before noon the agency’s CCTV cameras caught some 2,953 violators of the new traffic scheme.

“There would probably be more. We expect the numbers to go up in the afternoon,” he said.

Despite this, he admitted that traffic enforcers and the CCTV cameras found it difficult to detect the number of occupants of some 156 heavily-tinted cars that passed along EDSA.

He noted that there is an existing policy against using heavy, metallic tint on the windshields of vehicles.

“We have also ordered thermal cameras, handy-cams so we can foil even those who would attempt to use mannequins to avoid the ban,” he said.

Under the new traffic policy, vehicles with single occupant will not be allowed on the stretch of EDSA running from North Avenue in Quezon City to Magallanes in Makati from 7 to 10 a.m. and 6 to 9 p.m.

Garcia said the one-week test is meant to find out possible problems in the implementation of the ban. He said this would enable them to make the necessary corrections for the actual implementation of the new policy.

The ban also covers transport network vehicle services. They will be allowed to pick up or drop passengers on EDSA but they should take the next exit.

Garcia said initial assessment showed that the traffic scheme was “successful” because it increased the speed of vehicles passing Edsa.

He admitted that the scheme will not completely solve the traffic mess in Metro Manila but it can help in addressing the problem.

MMDA data revealed that around 300,000 private vehicles traverse EDSA every day.

However, Senate leaders urged MMDA to suspend the implementation of the driver-only ban.

In Senate resolution 845, Senate President Vicente Sotto III, Senate Minority Leader Franklin Drilon, Senate President Pro-Tempore Ralph Recto and Senate Majority Leader Miguel Zubiri assailed the new policy.

They noted that the scheme was set in place without public consultation and due process. They urged MMDA to conduct public consultations to further study the driver-only ban and find real solutions to Metro Manila traffic woes.

Earlier, Sen. Grace Poe said MMDA should wait and see the effect of banning provincial buses on EDSA during rush hours has on traffic before full implementation of the single-occupant ban.

“The intention may be good, but we should wait on the effect of banning provincial buses during rush hours,” Poe said.

She also said 70 percent of motorists passing EDSA during rush hours will be inconvenienced by the single-passenger vehicle ban.

“They are probably the working solo parents, parents who have to drop their kids along their way to work, spouses who live in the same city but work in different cities, young professionals or workers who cannot afford to hire their own drivers and yet are required to be on time in their offices,” Poe said.