Poe: Don’t rush ban on driver-only cars on Edsa

Senator Grace Poe appealed to the government on Wednesday not to rush the planned ban on driver-only private vehicles on Edsa during rush hours.

“Huwag padalos-dalos (We should not rush it),” Poe, chair of the Senate committee on public services, said in an interview at the Senate when asked to comment about the plan announced by the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Tuesday.

“Baka magkaroon ng isang day na subukan nila yun kung ano ang mangyayari at magkaroon talaga ng bukas na pagdinig kasi hindi pwedeng basta-basta unilateral at tapos sasabihin ngayon ito na,” she said.

(Maybe they should have a one-day trial to see what happens and conduct a public hearing because they can’t just unilaterally decide on the matter and enforce it immediately)

On Tuesday, the MMDA announced the Metro Manila Council’s (MMC) decision to implement the ban to decongest Edsa at least during rush hours.

READ: MMDA: Driver-only private vehicles to be banned on Edsa during rush hours

Poe argued that the move might be effective in other countries since there are alternate routes.

In the Philippines, she said Edsa is the main thoroughfare, but other alternate routes could not be used because of illegally parked vehicles.

“So unless you can guarantee na yun talagang mga illegally parked vehicles sa mga Mabuhay lanes ay tatatangalin ninyo, at malilinis niyo in coordination with the local governments, e wag kayong basta-bastang masasabi na hindi na pwedeng dumaan sa Edsa,” Poe said.

(So unless you can guarantee that the illegally parked vehicles along Mabuhay lanes would be cleared, in coordination with the local government, then you can’t just implement the ban on Edsa)

Aside from clearing the side streets, the senator reiterated the need to have a trial period and to hold public consultations before enforcing the ban.

“Kayo ba ay nagkaroon ng trial period para siguraduhin kung ano ba ang magiging epekto nito ((Did you have a trial period to find out the effects of this ban)?” she said.

“Nagkaroon na ba kayo ng bukas na pagdinig? Kami bay inimbitahan ninyo para kunsultahin dito (Have you conducted a public hearing? Have you invited us for consultation)?” Poe further asked. /ee