Caloocan wreath-laying brings Edsa commuters to a halt; tempers flare
A photo of the bus congestion around 6:00 a.m. on November 30,2022, shared by a commuter. | Photo from @chemloverphil
MANILA, Philippines — Commuters on the Edsa Bus Carousel were met with infuriating gridlock on Wednesday morning, caused by the wreath-laying ceremonies at the Andres Bonifacio National Monument in Caloocan City.
According to the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA), the traffic was caused by a ceremony at the Andres Bonifacio National Monument in Caloocan City which was led by President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. for Bonifacio’s 159th birth anniversary.
Commuters expressed their frustration on social media after witnessing buses backed up in long lines on the Edsa bus lanes in the city.
Buses were late because dignitaries had used exclusive lanes, angering one commuter.
“Kaninang umaga, sa may Edsa Carousel South Bound. Tagal dumating ng mga bus dahil sa sunod-sunod na pagdaan ng mga dignitaryo mula sa iba’t bang bansa sa lane na para sa pampublikong bus,” they said.
(This morning, at the Edsa Carousel South Bound. It took a while for the buses to arrive due to the successive passing of dignitaries from different countries in the lane for public buses.)
“Napaka-insensitibo naman para sa mga mananakay na tulad ko (it’s very insensitive for riders like me),” they added.
Another was outraged to be stuck in traffic along Edsa Bagong Barrio for an excruciating two hours.
“Jusko po, ano ‘to galing Tagaytay (it’s like I came from Tagaytay),” they said.
According to the same commuter, the traffic was still manageable when she left Edsa Ayala around 8 a.m. until Balintawak, “pero pagdating na mismo sa Bagong Barrio, ‘yung intersection dun ‘yung nagpapapangit (but once we arrived at Bagong Barrio, it’s the intersection that made it worse).”
“May traffic light pero parang segundo lang yung binibigay na chance for bus para makausad,” the commuter told Inquirer.net.
(There is a traffic light, but it’s as if they only provide seconds for the bus to move forward.)
“‘Di ko alam kung mali lang ba mga enforcers magpatakbo or ano ba sinusunod nila kasi [hindi] patas for bus. As in nagbababaan na mga pasahero sa gitna and lalakarin nalang mismo makalabas lang ng bus lane,” they added.
(I don’t know if the enforcers are operating incorrectly or what they were following because it’s not fair for the bus. As passengers are getting off in the middle of the road to walk and get out of the bus lane.)
Others kept it short, tagging the Edsa Carousel as a “failure.”
Inquirer.net has reached out to the Department of Transportation for a comment, but has yet to respond as of posting.
