HOV lane policy still in effect but no apprehensions yet, MMDA clarifies

An MMDA officer guards the HOV (High-occupancy vehicle) lane, the fifth lane along EDSA Guadalupe during a dry run that started Dec.11. HOV lanes are set for vehicles with at least two passengers including the driver, as a way to ease traffic, the HOV lane would be the innermost lane on EDSA, just beside the Metro Rail Transit.
INQUIRER / MARIANNE BERMUDEZ

Driver-only vehicles are still banned from the innermost lane of Edsa as the Metro Manila Development Authority (MMDA) clarified that the policy is still implemented but violators would not yet be apprehended.

In a press conference on Tuesday, MMDA assistant general for planning Jojo Garcia said that traffic enforcers are still implementing the high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lane policy.

Garcia clarified that the full implementation of the policy, which includes apprehending violators, was only set aside, but the dry-run is still on-going.

The MMDA originally set the week-long dry run last Dec. 11 (Monday). Garcia said that a P500 fine would be imposed against violators who would be apprehended.

READ: MMDA sets aside HOV lane policy on Edsa

“Hanggang ngayon, dry run pa rin para makita kung effective (Until now it is still on dry run so we can see if it is effective),” Garcia told reporters at the MMDA Metrobase, stressing that the hitches in the policy would not stop the agency from enforcing the policy.

“Kahit wala kaming thermal cameras, kahit kulang kami sa enforcer, ito ay hindi dahilan para itigil ang trabaho. We maximize our equipment and manpower para mapatupad,” the MMDA official said.
(Even though we don’t have thermal cameras, even if we lack the number of enforcers, this will not hinder us from performing our job.)

Since no apprehensions would be made, Garcia said he hopes motorists would practice self-discipline and comply with the policy.

“Kapag nakita sa drawing board (ang policy), maganda iyan kung susunod. Huwag maging reklamador kung kayo mismo ang pasaway,” Garcia said.
(If you can see the policy on the drawing board, it is very nice. It is good if people will follow. Don’t fret if you are the one being complained.)

MMDA spokeswoman Celine Pialago earlier said enforcers are having a hard time screening heavily-tinted vehicles since they would not be able to determine the number of passengers inside.

Pialago also lamented that not all motorists are informed of the HOV lane policy.

The spokeswoman, however, said the violators would be dealt with later on once the implementation of the policy has been fixed. /jpv