PASS THROUGH SOON Once the rebuilding of Edsa starts next month, San Miguel Corp. will allow motorists to use the Skyway Stage 3, from Buendia in Makati City to Balintawak in Quezon City, as an alternative toll-free route. 鈥擫yn Rillon
MANILA, Philippines 鈥� The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday said it will implement at least 20 rerouting schemes in preparation for the rehabilitation of Edsa next month.
The agency added that road and sidewalk clearing operations will continue on all alternative roads to remove obstructions such as parked vehicles and illegal vendors that can disrupt traffic.
Rerouting schemes will be implemented in the northbound lanes of Macapagal Avenue; Roxas Boulevard going to Naia Expressway; Arnaiz Avenue from Roxas Boulevard; Gil Puyat Avenue from Roxas Boulevard; Quirino Avenue from Roxas Boulevard; Kalayaan Avenue from Edsa, and Pioneer Street from Edsa.
READ: How will Edsa be rebuilt? Here are the details
There will also be rerouting plans affecting the southbound lanes of FPJ Avenue (formerly Roosevelt Avenue); West Avenue; Congressional Avenue/C-5 Road; Kamuning Road; Aurora Boulevard; Bonny Serrano Avenue; Ortigas Avenue; Shaw Boulevard; JP Rizal Street and Ayala Avenue in Makati City; Osme帽a Highway; and Tramo Street and Taft Avenue in Pasay City.
READ: Pasay-Guadalupe section to be prioritized in Edsa rehabilitation
Mabuhay lanes, or roads in the vicinity of busy Edsa intersections that were opened a few years ago as alternate routes that bypass major thoroughfares, will remain open and available for use by motorists, the MMDA said in its advisory on its website pages.
The MMDA also said that marked media vehicles will not be exempted from the odd-even scheme that will be implemented on Edsa starting June 16, but would remain exempted from roads covered by the existing expanded number coding scheme.
Improving road discipline
Meanwhile, the MMDA said 552 motorists have been apprehended as of 3 p.m. on Wednesday, the third day of the implementation of the No Contact Apprehension Policy (NCAP) along Edsa and other main roads.
On Tuesday, 952 motorists were apprehended, down from 1,112 on Monday.
Speaking on Wednesday on state-owned Radyo Pilipinas, Victor Nu帽ez, director for enforcement at the MMDA Traffic Discipline Office, said the four most common violations so far were disregarding traffic signs, use of exclusive bus and motorcycle lanes, and unauthorized passenger loading and unloading.
He said Edsa and Commonwealth Avenue have the most cases of violations apprehended through NCAP.
Asked about the lower number of apprehensions, Nu帽ez said NCAP proved to be a deterrent, adding, 鈥淲e鈥檙e happy to see that [motorists are] now complying [with traffic rules] and it shows they can be disciplined on the road.鈥�
Information drive
In Congress, Sen. JV Ejercito called on authorities to consider conducting a trial period for the implementation of NCAP to address glitches in the system.
He also urged authorities to ensure the proper implementation of NCAP and see to it that the rights of motorists and passengers are not violated.
鈥淚t appears that the most common violations were disobeying traffic signs, illegal use of the busway, etc. This could mean that road discipline needs to be tightened,鈥� Ejercito said in a statement.
鈥淚f NCAP can help achieve this goal, we support it鈥搄ust as we support other measures that will help improve the traffic system in Metro Manila and other urban centers,鈥� he added.
Ejercito also advised government agencies to strengthen their motorists鈥� education drive and ensure that local ordinances and guidelines on penalties and fines are properly enforced.
Senate President Francis Escudero earlier called on the MMDA for a fair, fast, and transparent implementation of NCAP to ease concerns over the program鈥檚 enforcement.
He said the MMDA should also immediately address the problematic lane markings, traffic lights, and signs, since these will be the basis for many of the violations and apprehensions.
鈥淓vidence should be clear and, as much as possible, indisputable. Enforcement of traffic rules and regulations should be consistent,鈥� he noted.
The Supreme Court has lifted the temporary restraining order on NCAP, and reactions to its resumption have not been encouraging, Escudero lamented. 鈥攚ith a report from Tina G. Santos