FILE PHOTO: Motorists are seen enduring the heavy traffic along Edsa in this file photo taken in November 2021. INQUIRER.net file photo / JONATHAN VICENTE
MANILA, Philippines — The vehicle volume at major thoroughfares in the National Capital Region (NCR) has increased by 10,000 to 15,000 for the past two weeks as people start their holiday rush, the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) said.
MMDA Director for Traffic Enforcement Group Victor Nuñez told PTV Bagong Pilipinas Ngayon that vehicle volume is also high even on weekends, or when people usually stay at home before the holiday season.
“Well ang latest count ho namin for two weeks ago eh parang dumagdag po ng 10,000 to 15,000 ‘yong traffic volume during rush hour especially po ‘yong makikita nating volume ng vehicles along major thoroughfares — Edsa (Epifanio delos Santos Avenue), and C-5, talaga hong medyo bumigat ‘yong traffic,” Nuñez said.
(Well our latest count for two weeks ago, it seems there was an additional 10,000 to 15,000 vehicles to our traffic volume during the rush hour, especially the volume of vehicles along major thoroughfares — Edsa and C-5, there really is a high volume there.)
“And dati-dati ‘pag Sabado, Linggo medyo magaan ngayon even on weekends mas marami ho kasing lumalabas at pumupunta sa mga malls kaya kahit Sunday and Saturday may matinding pagbagal sa daloy ng trapiko sa buong kalakhang Maynila,” he added.
(And before during Saturday or Sunday, we would have light traffic but now even on weekends a lot of people are moving out and go to malls that’s why even during Sunday and Saturday there is a severe slowdown for traffic over entire Metro Manila.)
While Metro Manila has started to feel the effects of schools’ holiday season break — as less cars can be seen bringing or fetching students to different schools across the metropolis — Nuñez said traffic volume remains high by afternoon and night, as people tend to visit malls during these hours.
“Ang nakikita namin sa obserbasyon namin, sa umaga medyo maganda ang daloy ng trapiko even on rush hours, pero pagdating po sa hapon eh talaga hong matindi ‘yong nagagamit natin na volume ng mga sasakyan, talagang even sa malls,” he explained.
(According to our observations, every morning, the traffic flow is good even on rush hours, but by the afternoon we really see a high volume of cars, especially near the malls.)
“Even do’n sa mga busy streets na hindi naman madalas dinadaanan, ‘yong mga alternate routes, eh talagang puno na rin po, marami rin ho talagang lumalabas especially sa hapon at sa gabi kaya do’n ho ‘yong mas nararamdaman natin ‘yong pagsikip ng daloy ng trapiko,” he added.
(Even for streets which were not usually busy or used, the alternate routes, it is being filled up because many are going out, especially by the afternoon and by night that’s why we feel the heavier traffic flow.)
Traffic volume has seen an increase even before the holiday season. Last October 20, MMDA said that they observed a 6.7 percent jump in the number of vehicles plying NCR’s roads, possibly due to the long weekend brought by the All Saints’ Day and All Souls’ Day holidays.
READ: MMDA sees 6.7% traffic jump on Edsa ahead of holidays
To counter the annual traffic problem caused by the holidays, MMDA has placed Mabuhay Lanes — a set of alternate routes for people going north, south, or east of Metro Manila, along with those going to different airports or seaports created since September 2015.
The MMDA assured the public that they are regularly monitoring the situation at Mabuhay Lanes, conducting clearing operations every day.
“Patuloy ‘yong pag-clearing ng aming strike force, lalong-lalo na sa Mabuhay Lanes dahil marami na rin ho ang gumagamit nito, umiiwas sa major roads, sa mga major busy streets natin at dinadaanan ho talaga ‘yong mga alternate routes na binibigay natin especially ‘yong Mabuhay Lanes,” Nuñez said.
READ: Manila barangays told to keep Mabuhay Lanes clear of obstructions
(The clearing operations of our strike force continues, especially over Mabuhay Lanes because many are using these, trying to avoid major roads and busy streets, they really use the alternate routes we provided especially the Mabuhay Lanes.)
READ: MMDA: Coding scheme stays despite 2-day transport strike
“That’s why everyday, even sa hapon, nag-ooperate po ang aming strike force to clear ‘yong ating Mabuhay Lanes para naman ho ‘yong gumagamit nito ay talaga namang, at least makikita nila ‘yong alternatibong daan ay walang mga nakaharang at sagabal sa kalsada,” he added.
(That’s why everyday, even during the afternoon, our strike force operates to clear our Mabuhay Lanes so that those using it can see that our alternate roads are free of obstruction.)