Day One: Not yet perfect

Traffic flow improves as HPG takes over

MANILA, Philippines - Traffic flow along EDSA improved but was “not yet perfect” as members of the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group (HPG) took control of traffic management yesterday on six identified chokepoints along the perennially congested highway.

“We made a calibration. It’s not yet perfect. This will not be solved in one sitting,” Secretary to the Cabinet Rene Almendras told reporters at the Metrobase of the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) office in Makati.

President Aquino had virtually appointed Almendras as the “traffic czar” of Metro Manila shortly after ordering the MMDA to hand over traffic management functions along EDSA to the HPG.

The President also ordered the HPG to prioritize the clearing of six identified chokepoints on EDSA: Balintawak, Cubao, Ortigas, Shaw Boulevard, Guadalupe and Taft Avenue.

“I think there is improvement. Some people say there is improvement,” Almendras added.

Yesterday afternoon, traffic on the northbound lane of EDSA from Makati to Quezon City was still crawling. Almendras blamed the slowdown on traffic barriers earlier laid by the MMDA on Guadalupe in Makati to separate buses and private vehicles.

“We are making adjustments. I have been monitoring the Guadalupe area. It’s congested in the peak hours; we will take out the barriers,” Almendras said.

“We’re going to try Guadalupe northbound without barriers,” he added.

Almendras told reporters that he was initially worried that bus drivers would not cooperate with the HPG. However, before noon, the bus lanes were cleared bus drivers duly reminded to follow traffic rules.

He noticed marked improvement in the southbound lane after Boni Serrano St. to Shaw Blvd.

“The bus lanes in Shaw Blvd. were okay, the movement was fast, the buses and cars moving well,” he said.

Almendras met with MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino and officials of the Land Transportation Office and the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board at the MMDA Metrobase office yesterday afternoon to assess the impact of the first day of the HPG’s presence on EDSA.

“Today’s meeting was about better integration. I just want to make sure the activities are integrated. Better coordination through radio equipment. Everybody has to coordinate with each other,” he said.

Almendras said he would also be talking with owners of business establishments along EDSA since the parking of their customers affect the traffic flow on the highway.

He said the HPG will be realigning the deployment of its officers and will augment those posted at the EDSA-White Plains area.

Almendras also said there is a need to talk to establishments located on roads leading to and from EDSA, especially shopping malls.

He also ordered a time and motion study to be done on EDSA considering the large volume of vehicles using it every day.

He said after fixing EDSA, he would try to untangle the traffic mess in secondary roads.

Almendras personally oversaw the implementation of a new bus scheme and the HPG’s clearing of chokepoints by being on EDSA corner P. Tuazon Boulevard in Quezon City yesterday morning.

Provincial buses bound for Batangas, Laguna, Bicol and Visayas coming from their terminals in Cubao and Kamuning have been directed to an alternate route - P. Tuazon, C-5 and then South Luzon Expressway (SLEX) from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday to Friday, except weekends and holidays – to ease traffic congestion on EDSA.

MMDA chairman Tolentino, who is under fire for failing to act on the traffic woes in Metro Manila, was also on EDSA yesterday based on reports.

Public Works Secretary Rogelio Singson said he checked the various markings on EDSA on Sunday and the areas where there were still many vendors.

Presidential Communications Operations Office Secretary Herminio Coloma Jr. said in a press briefing that based on the initial report they received, the first day of HPG personnel’s deployment on EDSA was generally okay and that many cited the improved flow of traffic in Balintawak area after the clearing operations done by the MMDA last week.

Coloma said congestion was heavier in Santolan because of narrower road.

“Fine-tuning is currently being done in the implementation of traffic management to improve the flow of vehicles on EDSA,” Coloma said.

Coloma called on the public to provide feedback and observations on how traffic could be improved further with HPG personnel.

Almendras, Tolentino and Transportation Secretary Joseph Emilio Abaya Jr. were invited to a Senate hearing on the traffic condition but the officials failed to attend.

Coloma said he was sure that lawmakers were properly informed of the reason for the no-show.

Almendras lamented a threat from Sen. Joseph Victor Ejercito to have them cited in contempt for failing to attend a Senate hearing on the traffic congestion.

He said he needed the time to be physically present and monitor the enforcement of laws and new measures on EDSA.

Almendras clarified on Saturday that President Aquino did not make any special designation for him to be traffic czar but all concerned departments and agencies would be working together to solve the problem.

He said the same thing was done when there was port congestion, which was a matter requiring inter-agency or inter-department action.

With regard to continuing calls for Tolentino to resign, Coloma said the MMDA chief still had the full trust and confidence of President Aquino, who ordered the clearing of EDSA chokepoints as initial measure to ease traffic congestion in the metropolis.

On orders from the President, the HPG yesterday resumed its traffic management functions on EDSA.

In 1995, traffic management duties on EDSA were transferred from the HPG to the MMDA as the HPG then focused on anti-crime operations on the highways.

HPG director Chief Supt. Arnold Gunnacao earlier said the HPG would be initially deploying 96 officers to the six chokepoints on EDSA.

The officers would be deployed on two eight-hour shifts starting at 5 a.m. This means that there would be eight HPG officers stationed at each of the six chokepoints.

Gunnacao said the HPG officers at each chokepoint would be assisted by two non-HPG police officers that will augment police visibility in the area.

He said the HPG officers at each chokepoint would have motorcycles and patrol cars to chase and apprehend erring motorists and to conduct a roving check of the traffic situation.

Gunnacao added that each HPG officer would be carrying with him traffic violation tickets issued both by the MMDA and the Land Transportation Office. The tickets issued by the LTO carry higher fines for traffic violations as stated under the Joint Administrative Order (JAO) 2014-01.

According to Gunnacao, it would be for the apprehending HPG officer to decide.

Too early to assess

“It’s too early to make any assessment. Perhaps the HPG needs a week before any assessment can be made,” PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor told reporters during a briefing at Camp Crame in Quezon City.

The Balintawak area, particularly the southbound lane of EDSA in front of Balintawak market was cleared of obstruction. People carrying their bags of vegetables, meat and other merchandise were seen walking toward the loading and unloading zone.

Mayor called on the public to help the HPG by giving feedback, which they will use as basis in improving the management of traffic along EDSA.

HPG spokesman Superintendent Oliver Tanseco said they could not yet get any initial feedback from the ground since the first shift of HPG agents was still in the field.

“It will take time before they could submit their report,” Tanseco told The STAR. “The number of violators is not a priority.”

He noted that some drivers who used to take the Mindanao Avenue exit of the North Luzon Expressway (NLEX) reportedly took Balintawak in Caloocan City.

PNP chief Director General Ricardo Marquez led yesterday the sendoff ceremony for HPG agents before their deployment to EDSA.

Marquez met with 150 HPG personnel in the sendoff at around 4:30 a.m. at Camp Crame in Quezon City, PNP spokesman Chief Superintendent Wilben Mayor said.

He said they could not afford to fail amid complaints of motorists about the monstrous traffic along EDSA.

“Let this day be the beginning. Let this day be another important milestone not only in the history of the HPG but also in the records of the PNP and in the pages of Philippine history,” said Marquez.

Tolentino still blamed the huge volume of vehicles for the traffic woes on EDSA.

“Volume overcapacity. Before 160,000 vehicles, now 260,000. Overflowing,” he said.

Tolentino added that in addition to the engineering interventions, the implementation of the yellow bus lanes would be enforced. Southbound provincial buses would also be diverted to C5 Road between 6 a.m. and 9 a.m.

He added that the MMDA would try to resolve the congestion caused by the dismissal of classes at the De La Salle High School and Poveda in Ortigas.

The Quezon City government opened alternate routes for southbound private vehicles to avoid congestion along EDSA.

Dexter Cardenas, chief of Traffic Operations Division of the Quezon City’s Department of Public Order and Safety, said alternative routes dubbed as Mabuhay Lane were made available to private motorists to avoid EDSA.  

He said northbund motorists have connecting roads to Makati, San Juan and Mandaluyong cities towards Quezon City.

This will help lessen traffic congestion along EDSA. With the alternative routes, private motorists will have an option to avoid EDSA especially during rush hour, Cardenas said.

Quezon City Mayor Herbert Bautista and DPOS chief Elmo San Diego met with some other officials from the MMDA and other government agencies to discuss how they are going to help lessen traffic woes on EDSA.

Aside from providing alternative routes, the local government will also intensify clearing operations against illegal vendors, construction work and terminals along major thoroughfares in Quezon City.

He said that some DPOS personnel would clear the areas along Commonwealth, EDSA, Aurora Boulevard and E. Rodriguez Boulevard that are prone to heavy traffic not only because of the volume of vehicles, but due to road obstructions. With Aurea Calica, Cecille Suerte Felipe, Robertzon Ramirez