MMDA chief: Travel time in metro faster by 5% after Uber suspension

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Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Danilo Lim on Thursday said travel time in major thouroghfares in the metropolis is now faster by five percent after the suspension of transport network company Uber.

“So from what we heard, ‘yung mga report — pati ‘yung data natin sa Metro Base — show na mukhang nakatulong sa pagbawas ng traffic,” Lim said in a Palace briefing.

“Of course, ‘yung traffic natin eh talagang malala pa rin, but kahit paano nakatulong daw,” he added.

The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) on August 14 suspended for a month the operations of transport network company (TNC) Uber after it defied its July 26 order not to accept and activate new drivers into its platform

Uber Philippines Public Policy Head Yves Gonzales earlier said they had at least 66,000 activated units.

Since the suspension, Lim said traffic flow improved by about five percent.

“Siguro mga five percent, mga ganun, sa travel time,” he said.

He said the volume of vehicles on the road remains to be a contributor to traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

“Well, sa mga narinig natin, mukhang lumuwag nang konti ‘yung traffic because of the [suspension ng Uber] because the problem talaga in Metro Manila is a volume problem of vehicles,” he said.

“Talagang napakaraming sasakyan at ‘yung mga kalsada natin ay hindi naman nadadagdagan,” he added. ASU/JE