Vice President Jejomar Binay. MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net
While noting that the Philippines has gained something from hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit, Vice President Jejomar Binay said the government was not prepared in handling the traffic situation in the metropolis which had inconvenienced thousands of commuters.
“Nakatutuwa at nagkaroon tayo ng Apec meeting dito. Ang nakakalungkot nga lamang ay mukhang hindi masyadong tama ang pagkakahanda dahil sa nariyan iyong may nanganak sa kalye dahil sa traffic. Abot-abot ang naging problema dahil sa traffic,” Binay said in Batangas on Friday.
(It is great that the Apec meetings were held in the country. The unfortunate thing is it seems as if the preparation was not proper since there had been an incident of a woman forced to give birth on the street because of the traffic. Problems had spiraled because of the traffic.)
The Vice President was referring to a woman who gave birth on a road in Parañaque City when she could not reach the hospital due to the traffic congestion supposedly caused by the Apec summit.
READ: Woman gives birth on the road at height of traffic jam | Apec road scheme starts, ends with sidewalk births | On Apec lanes: Like ‘having sex’; netizens: Like being raped
Due to road closures particularly in areas near Apec venues, commuters were also forced to walk to get to their place of work and other destinations. Road closures have been lifted on Friday as the Apec summit concluded.
Among the roads closed over the past days include the stretch of Roxas Boulevard, Edsa-Ayala in Makati to Edsa Extension in Pasay, Macapagal Avenue from Aseana to Buendia Extension, Edsa-Magallanes Interchange, and the Metro Manila Skyway (Sales to Magallanes Exit).
READ: Heavy traffic as more roads closed due to Apec | Thousands walked 4 kilometers to work, in over an hour, due to Apec road closure | Roads reopened after Apec summit—MMDA
Nevertheless, Binay, who was tasked to welcome heads of state upon their arrival in the country, acknowledged that the Philippines benefitted from hosting the Apec summit through various bilateral agreements, reaffirmed commitments, and exploration of new areas for cooperation with other economies.
“Ang Apec ay kasama sa pagiging miyembro natin ng international community. So natutuwa naman ako na dito naganap ang Apec [meetings],” he said. “At the end of the [meetings] maibibigay naman sa inyo kung ano ang napala natin, ano ang napag-usapan, ano ang napag-pirmahan. May napala naman.”
(The Apec constitutes our membership in the international community. As such, I am glad that the Apec meetings were held here. At the end of the meetings, you will reap the benefits of what were discussed, what were agreed upon. There are benefits [from the Apec meetings].) CDG
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