Edsa traffic flow ‘slightly better’ amid road clearing drive — MMDA

MANILA, Philippines — Traffic flow along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (Edsa) has become slightly better on the third day of the 60-day drive to clear public roads of obstructions, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Wednesday.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said heavy traffic along the outer roads connected to Edsa, are caused by illegal sidewalk vendors and other obstructions that cause vehicles to slow down.

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“Medyo naman po,” he said if he thinks the clearing operations have helped improve the traffic situation in Edsa. “Kaya naman talaga nagtatraffic sa Edsa, hindi yung Edsa actually ang traffic kundi yung outer roads, yung exit parts,” he said.

(Yes, slightly. It’s not actually Edsa where there is heavy traffic but in outer roads and exit parts.)

Garcia said this is the reason why the MMDA is also conducting clearing operations at the exit points of Edsa. “Pag bumilis yung flow dyan bibilis din yung bara sa Edsa (If the traffic flow there becomes fast, the blockage in Edsa will also be removed),” he said.

As local government units (LGUs) conduct clearing operations as ordered by the Department of the Interior and Local Government, Garcia said the MMDA is also clearing Edsa of illegal terminals and other obstructions.

He also expressed relief that LGUs now actively serve as partners of the MMDA in reclaiming public roads.

In the past, he said, vendors that are removed by the MMDA from sidewalks return “in less than five minutes”

“Because of this directive ng ating Pangulo, kumilos ang lahat ng kailangan bantayan para malaman lalo na ng mga barangay officials natin na we are really serious about this,” he said, referring to President Rodrigo Duterte’s order to the DILG to launch the clearing drive during his fourth State of the Nation Address.

(Because of the directive of the President, everyone acted on areas that should be monitored, so that village officials will know that we are really serious about this.). /muf