HOV fate rests on council

Decision on the fate of the High-Occupancy scheme on EDSA rests on the entire Metro Manila Council.

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Thursday said the final say on whether or not the ban on single-occupancy vehicles on EDSA would be scrapped rests on the council of all Metro Manila mayors.

Senate leaders on Monday filed a resolution urging the MMDA to suspend the new traffic reduction scheme on EDSA that triggered a backlash from commuters.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said they respect the sentiment of the senators but any decision on the fate of the High-Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) scheme on EDSA rests on the entire Metro Manila Council.

“We respect the Senate’s resolution, but we need to convene also the Metro Manila Council because the ban was implemented through a resolution of the body,” Garcia said in the radio interview.

The HOV scheme prohibits driver-only vehicles from traversing EDSA during rush hour or from 7 to 10 a.m. and from 6 to 9 p.m. on weekdays.

Garcia claimed the ban eased traffic flow along EDSA at the start of HOV’s week-long dry run, citing media reports as well as video footage of the dry run.

“It can also be seen in CCTV clips that EDSA traffic improved in the morning,” he said.

MMDA intends to start full implementation of the driver-only ban on 23 August if the dry run proved successful.

Garcia also said the ban on provincial buses along EDSA reduced bottlenecks along the busy highway, particularly in the area of Cubao in Quezon City.

Malacañang appealed to the public to give the HOV scheme a chance since it is a possible solution to the traffic in Metro Manila.

Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the driver-only ban on EDSA is patterned after similar scheme in the United States that is successful in easing traffic congestion.

“MMDA’s intention to reduce the volume of vehicles in EDSA is good. It is based on the experience of other countries like the United States,” he said.