MANILA, Philippines – Metro Manila mayors should join forces in addressing the traffic crisis in the metropolis, incoming Pasig City Mayor Vico Sotto pointed out on Sunday.
Sotto said traffic and other urban issues cannot be handled by a single mayor.
“Marami kaming kailangang pag-usapan katulad ng traffic. Di yan kaya ng isang mayor lang. Kailangan magtulungan ang mga mayor ng Metro Manila,” Sotto stressed.
Sotto added that he is “very confident” that mayors of Metro Manila could work well together.
“I’ve met some of them, I am very confident that we will be able to work well together,” Sotto said.
Asked if he would still stop the implementation of the odd-even scheme in several roads in Pasig City, Sotto said: “Pwede natin i-suspend.
Following his victory in the recent midterm elections, Sotto said that he would put an end to the odd-even traffic scheme that is being imposed on several roads in Pasig City.
Under the said scheme, four-wheeled vehicles with license plate numbers ending in even numbers are not allowed on the specific roads every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
Vehicles with plate numbers ending in odd numbers, meanwhile, are banned every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.
This scheme, Sotto said, was ineffective in solving traffic problems in the city.
“Proud po akong sabihin at lagi ko pong sinasabi na ko lang po ang konsehal na tumutol sa odd-even na coding scheme, at tatanggalin ko po kaagad yan,” Sotto said in an interview over DZMM three days after the May 13 elections. (Editor: Gilbert S. Gaviola)