MMDA names traffic choke points that ‘need emergency powers’

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Wednesday identified areas in the National Capital Region which it called traffic choke points that “need emergency powers to resolve.”

Former MMDA Chair Emerson Carlos said granting emergency powers to President Rodrigo Duterte would prevent billions in economic losses caused by the worsening traffic crisis in the metropolis.

READ: ‘Emergency powers needed for Duterte to solve traffic crisis’

“It is better to use the emergency powers for infrastructure projects to solve traffic congestion because there is no instant solution for infrastructure. We can do it (infrastructure) but it will take more than two years before we can start the project,” Carlos said in a statement.

Carlos said emergency powers would allow the government to create more infrastructure projects and accelerate their implementation, and to unify the traffic laws being implemented by the national government and local units.

READ: ‘Give Duterte emergency powers to solve Metro traffic’

“There should be rationalization of traffic laws, like for example, we are implementing a no parking zone but the concerned local government unit there has a different policy which allows parking. So, there should be a common policy,” he said.

MMDA, the agency tasked to manage the traffic situation in Metro Manila, identified the following as traffic choke points:

7 choke points along EDSA:

• Balintawak Market Road

• Aurora Boulevard

• Ortigas Avenue

• Shaw Boulevard

• Guadalupe

• Ayala Avenue

• Taft Avenue

Roads leading to and from Manila North Harbor Area, especially:

• Circumferential Road – 3 (C-3 Road)

• A. Mabini Street

• Dagat-Dagatan Avenue

• North Bay Boulevard

• Radial Road 10 (R-10)

In Southern Metro Manila:

• Major roads leading to Ninoy Aquino International Airport terminals, particularly Airport Road, Domestic Road, Andrews Avenue, Tramo Avenue, Sucat Avenue and Sales Road; and

• Alabang-Zapote Road and Circulo del Mundo Avenue

Northern part:

• Rizal Avenue

• Samson Road

• Gen. Malvar Street

• Mc Arthur Highway

• Karuhatan Road

• Gen. De Leon

• Pio Valenzuela

• Gen. De Jesus

Eastern part:

• Santolan

• Gil Fernando Bridge

• Marcos Hiway

• San Juan Intersection

• Pasig Intersection

• Meralco Avenue

Quezon City:

• Boni Serrano Avenue

• Araneta Avenue

• Timog Avenue

• E. Rodriguez Avenue

• Katipunan Avenue

• C.P. Garcia Avenue

• Magsaysay Avenue

• Capitol Intersection

• Luzon flyover

• J.P. Rizal

• Ayala Heights Rotunda

• Miriam Gate and Ateneo Gate

Manila:

• Bonifacio Drive

• Roxas Boulevard

• España Boulevard

• Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard

• Jose Abad Santos Avenue

• Claro M. Recto Avenue

• Sen. Osmeña Highway

• Rizal Avenue (Carriedo)

Former President and now Pampanga Rep. Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo is set to file the “Metro Manila Traffic Crisis Act of 2016,” seeking to authorize Duterte to enter negotiated contracts for traffic and transportation projects without bidding and to reorganize the MMDA, among other powers.

READ: Gloria Arroyo bill to give Duterte crisis power over traffic

On the part of the Senate, Sen. Franklin Drilon also filed a bill granting the President emergency powers that would authorize him to use simple and faster methods of procurement for infrastructure and transportation projects.

READ: Drilon files bill giving Duterte crisis powers