Roxas to commuters caught in traffic: ‘I know the frustration’

Liberal Party standard bearer Manuel “Mar” Roxas II on Wednesday said he knows very well the hardship faced by Filipino commuters caught up in traffic and that he has solutions in mind.

“I know the frustration and anger as they see the hours wasting away,” Roxas said during the “Mar Roxas meets Inquirer Multimedia” forum in Makati. “By the time they get home it’s already late.”

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He said he himself has been in the same situation and in fact he left his house on Wednesday morning by 6 a.m., only to be caught up in heavy traffic.

“Yes, traffic exists but there are also solutions that are on the way,” he explained.

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He said there are already infrastructure being constructed such as the roads connecting the South Luzon Expressway (SLEx) and the North Luzon Expressway (NLEx).

“All the vehicles that are on Edsa today will have 12 additional lanes to use once these things are up,” he said.

He said the companies involved are those known for finishing projects in time.

Roxas said he will also look into decongestion of main roads by reconfiguring the franchises of buses.

“Ours is the only city in the world with multiple bus lines operating in the same route,” he said, adding that the current incentive system of bus drivers contribute to traffic congestion.

“A huge part of the traffic is habulan, karera,” he said.

Asked why his ally Transportation Secretary Jun Abaya has yet to implement such a measure, Roxas said, “Believe me even if I become president, it’s not going to be easy.”

“I will have to go to Congress to ask for a revision in the franchise law,” he said.