MMDA asks QC gov’t for help in making ‘killer highway’ safe
In response to a call made by Quezon City councilors, an official of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said Sunday that the agency had been finding ways since the start of the year to make Commonwealth Avenue in Quezon City safer for both motorists and pedestrians.
In a radio interview, MMDA Assistant General Manager for planning Tina Velasco said that road safety on the busy thoroughfare had been among the foremost concerns of MMDA Chairman Francis Tolentino, who formed a task force to monitor the situation in the area and implement safety measures.
Velasco, however, acknowledged that the agency’s efforts so far were just “stop gap measures” and that what was needed was long–term solutions.
“We hope the local government unit can help us,” Velasco added, referring to the Quezon City government.
In January, Tolentino formed Task Force Commonwealth to oversee the situation on the so-called “killer highway,” a monicker given to the busy thoroughfare because of the high accident rate in the area, which had resulted in scores of deaths and injuries.
Velasco explained that the creation of the task force meant that the MMDA was aware of the problem.
Earlier this year, the MMDA also implemented a 60–kph speed limit on Commonwealth Avenue to reduce the possibility of accidents in addition to setting aside two lanes for passenger buses.
In addition, it deployed several traffic enforcers to the area who were equipped with radar speed guns.
But despite these measures, accidents continued to occur on the thoroughfare, including one which involved a University of the Philippines professor, who was also a veteran journalist.
Lourdes “Chit” Estella-Simbulan was killed when the taxi cab she was riding in was hit by two speeding buses.
Her death prompted the MMDA to re-intensify the implementation of the speed limit on the avenue.
In separate draft city council resolutions, Councilors Roderick Paulate, Raquel Malangen and Precious Hipolito Castelo recently called on the MMDA to install “precautionary measures” to help prevent accidents on the killer highway.
These measures included the installation of closed circuit television cameras and radar speed guns, as well as additional street lamps and reflectorized traffic signs.
Velasco said the MMDA was in favor of the councilors’ proposal but that the agency lacked the funds to implement it.
She added that they had sent a “wish list” of the equipment they needed for road safety to the Department of Public Works and Highways, which would forward it to international funding agencies that would in turn conduct a needs assessment evaluation.
