MANILA, Philippines — “What alternatives do you have for us here in Metro Manila?”
This was the question posed by Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Edsa Traffic head Bong Nebrija to AKO Bicol Partylist, which asked the Supreme Court (SC) to stop the agency’s policy barring provincial buses from passing through Edsa.
Nebrija said MMDA recognizes the right of AKO Bicol to seek SC’s intervention on the matter as part of “democratic process” but urged the partylist group to provide MMDA and Metro Manila dwellers experiencing daily traffic alternative solution to the problem.
In a 44-page petition, AKO Bicol congressmen Ronald Ang and Alfredo Garbin Jr. on Monday asked the high court to issue a temporary restraining order (TRO) against MMDA Regulation No. 19-002, which bans provincial buses from plying Edsa and disallows provincial bus terminals operating along the main metro highway.
READ: SC asked to stop ban on provincial buses along Edsa
“That’s part of the democratic process, pwede kang mag-file ng TRO, that’s fine,” Nebrija told reporters in teleconference interview. “Pero sana tingnan naman nila ‘yung merit ng policy. This has been vetted by the Metro Manila mayors’ wisdom.”
“What alternatives do you have for us here in Metro Manila? It’s easy to kill a policy. Kung palaging ganyan, ipapahinto, ‘wag na tayong magpolicy,” he also said.
MMDA’s provincial bus ban policy along Edsa stems from its position that provincial buses contribute to heavy traffic along Edsa.
The policy’s dry-run started April 22, and MMDA plans to impose its full enforcement this coming June. Faye Orellana, INQUIRER.net /kga