Edsa’s driver-only ban remains suspended

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia and Quezon City Mayor Herbert “Bistek” Bautista. INQUIRER.net photo / Faye Orellana

The Metro Manila Council (MMC) has decided to continue to suspend the implementation of the high occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane along Edsa but its dry run will remain in effect.

This development came after the MMC conducted a special executive meeting on Friday at the Wack-Wack Golf and Country Club with the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) chair Danilo Lim and general manager Jojo Garcia.

The HOV policy of the MMDA aims to lessen the vehicles passing through Edsa as it encourages the public to engage in carpooling.

“We agreed that we will continue to study [the measure]. We will wait for the findings of San Juan, Pasig, Mandaluyong, Makati, and Taguig, and MMDA,” Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista said after the MMC meeting.

“We will also continue our dialogue with both Houses, and then meet with [Malacañang] to present our findings,” he added.

When asked on how long will the HOV dry run be, Garcia said that it is still indefinite.

Garcia once again urged the public to engage in carpooling as the government could not seemingly find the perfect solution to the current traffic problem.

“We really need to do something and we’re encouraging people to practice carpooling. Our local officials said traffic congestion has become heavier in the inner streets. That’s why we reiterate the need for carpooling,” Garcia said.

Under the HOV dry run, no fines will be imposed yet but the MMC eyes to put a P1,000-fine to violators once the policy if fully implemented.

Garcia also said in an earlier press conference that the HOV lane policy covers ride-hailing companies but asserted that the policy was not anti-transport network vehicle services.

READ: MMDA says ‘singles’ ban on Edsa not against ride-hailing companies

The Senate earlier adopted a resolution urging the immediate suspension of the single-driver only ban along Edsa during rush hours.

Senate Resolution No. 845 was initiated by Senate President Vicente “Tito” Sotto III, Senate President Pro Tempore Ralph Recto, Majority Leader Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Minority Leader Franklin Drilon.

READ: Senate adopts resolution vs. ban on solo riders on Edsa

The MMDA temporarily deferred the implementation of the HOV lane that was initially set on August 23, following the issuance of the resolution.

However, its week-long dry run that started last August 15 continued until its last day on August 22. /jpv

READ: HOV scheme’s full implementation on Edsa suspended for now