DPWH mulls 3-passenger rule, new office sked to ease Edsa traffic

PHOTO by ARNOLD ALMACEN/INQUIRER

Prohibiting vehicles with less than three passengers during peak hours on Edsa is now being “seriously” considered by the government to address the worsening traffic in the metropolis, Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said on Tuesday.

“Pinopropose namin which is now being seriously considered e gawin na lang during peak hours 7 to 10 in the morning and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. na sana 3 passengers or more ang pwede lang gumamit nyan,” Singson told reporters after attending a budget hearing at the Senate.

(We are proposing, which is now being seriously considered, that during peak hours, from 7 to 10 in the morning and 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., vehicles with three passengers and more should be allowed to use Edsa.)

“Para magawa mo yan kailangan mo munang buksan ang mga alternate routes para yung mga pribadong sasakyan na less than three ay meron din namang dadaan” he said.

(To be able to do that, you have to open first alternative routes for private vehicles with less than three passengers so they can pass through them.)

Singson clarified that their proposal was just one of the many recommendations to address the traffic problem in Metro Manila.

At present, he said, the government would strictly enforce that the two lanes on Edsa should be dedicated to buses, the third lane to motorcycles and the tree remaining lanes to private vehicles.

Aside from limiting the vehicles with less than three passengers on Edsa, Singson said there was also another recommendation to adjust the office hours of government employees as well as workers in the private sector.

“Meron ding mga rekomendasyon kaming natatanggap na kung pwede yung government offices mag umpisa na ng 7 a.m. hanggang 4 p.m. tapos yung private sector mag-umpisa na ng 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.,” he said.

(We also received recommendations that if possible, work in government offices should start at 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. while in the private sector, it should start at 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.)

“Kasi malaking bagay yun, imbes na lahat nasa kalye ng 8 a.m. hanggang 9 a.m. at least yung nasa government, mag-umpisa sila ng alas 7, alas-sais pa lang gumagalaw na sila sa kalye tapos labas na sila ng alas kwatro… It might make sense but only in NCR hindi naman kailangang nationwide,” he further said.

Singson said the President could simply issue a directive or an executive order to enforce this new office hours for government and private workers in the NCR.