Palace: Traffic shouldn’t be a ‘campaign, political issue’

The worsening traffic situation in Metro Manila should not be taken against government officials who will run in the 2016 elections, a Palace official said on Wednesday.

Presidential spokesperson Edwin Lacierda said traffic should not be considered a “campaign issue” as it is an “everyday problem.”

“It’s not per se a ‘campaign issue’ because it’s always an issue that we confront every day. In and of itself, it is not a campaign issue; it’s an everyday problem that we have to contend with,” Lacierda told reporters.

Lacierda said “some people” will use the traffic issue in the campaign period, but added they should be reminded of the government’s efforts in curbing the perennial problem plaguing the capital region’s busiest thoroughfares.

“I suppose some people would use that. Some people would use that but they should also take caution with the fact that government, our non-partisan agencies, for instance—the Highway Patrol Group—are doing a major effort in improving the flow of traffic in Edsa. This is not a political issue as far as the government is concerned,” Lacierda said.

“This is a major concern for the motorists and we want to make sure that this issue of traffic will be solved on a daily basis, making improvements in the whole system, and that is why it’s a work in progress. HPG continues to analyze, HPG continues to look into ways as to improving the flow of traffic, especially in Edsa,” he added.

Presidential spokesman Edwin Lacierda. FILE PHOTO

Lacierda assured the public that government agencies concerned in traffic management have been doing their jobs to ease road congestion in Metro Manila.

“Given the major infrastructure rehab or improvements that we are making, (we) tried to make the traffic situation better than where it was several days ago. It’s a daily work in progress effort to improve the flow of traffic, and it’s a concern for the Metro Manila motorists, especially those who are traveling the Edsa highway,” he said. Yuji Vincent Gonzales/TVJ

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