MANILA, Philippines — The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said on Wednesday that the Metro Manila Council (MMC) approved three new traffic resolutions, which will only be implemented if needed.
According to MMDA acting chairman Don Artes, the resolutions were made in preparation for the expected heavy traffic flow as the holiday season approaches and the agency would have something ready to be implemented.
He emphasized that MMDA will not enforce the new resolutions as long as the traffic remains manageable.
Artes said the first resolution is the removal of the window period in the number coding scheme. Once implemented, the coding will be from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Based on their studies, Artes said that the coding scheme decreases the volume of vehicles by 20 percent, especially those passing through EDSA and C-5 road, which is a big factor in the traffic flow.
Next is the increase in penalties for drivers who illegally use the bus lane. Upon implementation, the chairman said the following sanctions will be imposed:
- First offense – a penalty of P5,000
- Second offense – a penalty of P10,000, a seminar, and one-month suspension of driver’s license
- Third offense – a penalty of P20,000, and one year of suspension of driver’s license
- Fourth offense – a penalty of P30,000, and permanent revocation of driver’s license
The last resolution is the increase in penalties for contractors who excavate and work on highways. From P1,000 to P25,000, Artes said they will increase the penalty to P15,000, P25,000, and P50,000.
Artes said the increase in penalties on the second and third resolutions is due to violators willing to pay penalties as they can afford them.
The three resolutions were approved by the MMC last October 6, Artes noted.
“Medyo advanced lang po tayong mag-isip. Mabuti na po yung handa tayo na kung kailangan, saka natin i-implement. Kaysa naman kung kailan hindi na gumagalaw ang mga sasakyan sa lansangan ay saka palang tayo kukuha ng MMC resolution,” he said in a press conference.
(We are just thinking in advance. It is better to prepare and have something to implement when needed rather than only seeking a resolution from MMC when the vehicles are not moving anymore.)
Artes reiterated that the MMDA will not yet implement these resolutions for as long as they can manage.
“Iaayos po namin kung kailan ipatutupad yan, lalong-lalo na po yung sa number coding scheme. Hangga’t kaya po ng aming ahensya na i-hold yan, iho-hold po natin,” he said.
(We will arrange when that will be enforced, especially on the number coding scheme. As long as the agency can hold it, we will hold it.)
“Pero kung kailangan na po, lalo na po sa mga darating na linggo, pagkatapos ng Undas, we expect heavy traffic as the Christmas season [approaches],” he added.
(But if needed, especially in the coming weeks, after All Saints’s Day and All Souls’ Day, we expect heavy traffic as the Christmas season approaches.)
Artes said that they will be observing the traffic from November 6 to November 12, and will base their decision on whether or not they will carry out the resolution on the data they will gather.
“Kapag nakita po namin na talagang sobra na ang pagsikip ng daloy ng trapiko, mapipilitan po tayo [na magpatupad],” he said.
(If we see that the traffic congestion is too much, we will have no choice but to implement it.)
An announcement will be made in case the MMDA will already be implementing the resolutions, Artes assured.
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