Lito Atienza not in favor of banning driver-only cars from Edsa
Senior Deputy Minority Leader Buhay Rep. Lito Atienza has strongly opposed the Metro Manila Council’s (MMC) directive to ban driver-only cars from Edsa during rush hours, putting the blame of heavy traffic on the presence of buses and illegal bus terminals along Edsa.
In a speech during the Tuesday session of the House of Representatives, Atienza pointed out the illegally situated terminals along Edsa, 47 of them, according to him, are still operating.
“I’m pointing out the illegally situated terminals along Edsa, 47 of them are still operating and they are not doing anything,” he said.
The lawmaker also lamented the presence of provincial buses on the major thoroughfare.
“The provincial buses that ply Edsa continue to multiply… Napupuna ko po tuwing pupunta ko sa ating Kongreso, pag wala pong bus at nililinis nila ang Edsa, mabilis po ang byahe natin,” Atienza also said.
“From my home in Manila up to here it takes me only about 40 minutes. Pero pagka puno po ng bus at pinakakawalan po nila ito at certain times and days of the week, dalawang oras ang pinakababang gugugulin natin sa kalsada,” he added.
On Tuesday, the MMC approved a resolution to ban driver-only private vehicles on Edsa during rush hours to allot all lanes of Edsa for high occupancy vehicles or vehicles with at least two individuals–including the driver.
READ: MMDA: Driver-only private vehicles to be banned on Edsa during rush hours
The lawmaker said this resolution was a “limitation of our right to drive our own cars.”
“Pag hindi natin kinontra ito ngayon, at malaman ng lahat na ito na namang karapatan natin ang aalisin, sa halip na magtrabaho itong mga kinauukulan, ay baka bandang huli tayo ang magulat na muli,” he said.
Atienza specifically addressed Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chair Danilo Lim and General Manager Jojo Garcia, saying: “Mag-aral kayo ng mabuti sa inyong tungkulin na mabigyan ng solusyon ang traffic conditions na hindi aalisan naman ng karapatan ang pangkaraniwang Pilipino.”
Atienza said he would file a resolution to counter the MMC directive. /vvp
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