House panel mulls hearing on new EDSA traffic scheme

The House Committee on Transportation can conduct a motu proprio hearing on the Metro Manila Development Authority’s implementation of the ban on driver-only vehicles along EDSA, its panel chairman said yesterday.

Catanduanes Rep. Cesar Sarmiento, chairman of the panel, said they can launch a hearing on the MMDA’s ban on driver-only vehicles.

“We can do that, we can call for a motu proprio hearing on the HOV (high occupancy vehicle) [traffic scheme],” he told reporters after his panel’s technical working group meeting on the implementation of the Omnibus Franchising Guidelines and Public Utility Vehicle (PUV) Modernization Program.

The House leader said he is certain that many of his colleagues wanted "to call the attention" of the MMDA in connection with the implementation of the HOV traffic scheme. In the Senate, a resolution was filed urging the MMDA to shelve the implementation of the ban on driver-only vehicles.

“If we are implementing the HOV, maghahanap ng ibang lugar na pagdadaanan, so may clogging ng side streets. We are clearing EDSA, but we are also creating traffic in other areas,” he explained.

He stressed the best solution to traffic congestion is reliable and efficient mass transportation system.

In an interview after the House TWG panel’s meeting, Marikina Rep. Bayani Fernando, former MMDA chairman, agreed with Sarmiento, that HOV traffic scheme would create traffic in other areas.

But, he said the MMDA should be given the chance to implement the scheme to address traffic congestion.

During the TWG meeting, Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) Chairman Martin Delgra said they are “supportive” of the MMDA’s initiative, which encourages carpooling.

“It addresses traffic congestion, it addresses environmental issue because you have less cars on the road,” he said.

For his part, Samar Rep. Edgar Mary Sarmiento, vice chairman of the House Committee on Transportation, asked the MMDA to first consider synchronizing the flow of buses plying Metro Manila's most important highway.

He said following the implementation of the HOV traffic scheme, other smaller Metro Manila streets would absorb the volume of vehicles which would only widen the area of the gridlock.

He said unoccupied Transport Networking Vehicles (TNVs) and taxi would be forced to use interior roads which would further clog these small alternate routes.

"So instead of having a traffic problem only on EDSA, we will have traffic everywhere, even in the outlying barangay roads. Without any alternate mode of transport, our so-called singles will continue using their vehicles even with this ban. This means that we will not reduce the volume of vehicles but we would just send them elsewhere, "Sarmiento said in a statement.

He said a well-synchronized dispatch system for EDSA buses and the strict implementation of "loading and unloading only" zones all over Metro Manila are far more superior measures than the "driver-only ban" scheme.