‘Perfect storm’ brewing on Edsa for holidays

’Tis the season to be jolly, but not when you’re stuck in traffic on the busiest thoroughfare in the metropolis.

On Saturday, Metropolitan Manila Development Authority’s (MMDA) recently appointed traffic chief, Bong Nebrija, warned commuters to expect sluggish speeds of “10 to 20 kilometers per hour” when traveling on Edsa this Christmas season.

Freaky Friday

He said the hike in volume of Christmas shoppers, mall goers and even the spotty weather were expected to make for a “perfect storm” on the country’s busiest roads, Edsa included, “especially during Fridays.”

But the MMDA was “not making any excuses,” Nebrija clarified.

For one, the agency has already declared a “no day-off, no absent” policy for traffic enforcers assigned at Edsa who are expected to fully monitor the situation across the metropolis.

The MMDA has also intensified operations against illegally parked vehicles in addition to launching a crackdown on “colorum” public utility vehicles to clear roads.

Still, Nebrija also pleaded with the riding public to observe traffic regulations.

“This is not about enforcement but self-discipline,” he said. “For everyone saying that they have spent three, four hours on Edsa, we apologize for the inconvenience but we all need to be part of solving traffic.”

As the lead agency in Metro traffic enforcement, the MMDA has been pushing for radical policies to help decongest the capital.

This includes, among others, a ban on drivers-only vehicles and provincial buses on Edsa during rush hour.

Beaten into submission

But these policies have fallen flat because of their lax enforcement by the agency, often beaten into submission by widespread public criticism and even a resolution from some senators asking it to reconsider its traffic solutions.

In a previous news forum, MMDA spokesperson Celine Pialago said most of the agency’s problems in enforcement could be traced to inadequate funding.

According to her, the MMDA severely lacked funds for procuring much-needed equipment like speed meters, breathalyzers in addition to hiring additional traffic enforcers.