Vehicular accidents on EDSA drop after HPG takeover

MANILA, Philippines - Incidents of vehicular accidents on the 23.8-kilometer stretch of EDSA have dropped following the takeover of traffic management duties by the Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group (HPG).

According to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Assistant General Manager for Operations Emerson Carlos, there were only 23 accidents reported for September 7 and 8 as compared to the 37 accidents reported for September 6 (Sunday). The HPG took control of traffic management duties on EDSA from the MMDA on Monday.

Carlos said most of the vehicles involved in the traffic accidents are privately owned. About 90 percent of vehicles that travel through EDSA daily are private vehicles.

Meanwhile, Carlos admitted that traffic on EDSA’s northbound lane was crawling on Tuesday afternoon due to congestion on the Ortigas area.

Carlos blamed the congestion on the large volume of vehicles on EDSA daily. Earlier MMDA chairman Francis Tolentino said the number of vehicles on EDSA have increased from 160,000 daily to 260,000.

Carlos said that as HPG officers have taken over traffic management duties on EDSA, the displaced MMDA traffic enforcers have been redeployed to other major thoroughfares such as the C-5 Road and Commonwealth Avenue.

“Ang mga tao natin sa MMDA under operational control ng HPG. Meaning kung saan siya dalin. Yung mga nadisplace sa EDSA, sa mga six chokepoints, ay inilipat. Isa yung sa C5,” said Carlos.

Carlos said traffic flow on EDSA continues to improve since the HPG takeover.

“Traffic on the whole stretch of EDSA continues to improve with less accidents,” he said.

Meanwhile, the MMDA on Tuesday advised private motorists to make use of alternate routes or the so-called “Mabuhay Lanes” to get around traffic gridlocks in the metro.

The “Mabuhay Lane Routes” for private vehicles were identified by the MMDA as from North to South Route 1: From EDSA turn right at West Avenue, right at Quezon Avenue, U-turn near Magbanua, right at Timog, right at Tomas Morato, right at E. Rodriguez, left at Gilmore, straight to Granada, right to Pinaglabanan, right at P. Guevarra, left at L. Mencias, right at Shaw Blvd., left at Acacia Lane, right at F. Ortigas, left at P. Cruz, left at F. Blumentrit, left at Coronado, take Mandaluyong - Makati Bridge to destination.

Route 2: From EDSA turn right at West Avenue, right at Del Monte Avenue, left at Sto. Doming or Biak na Bato, right at Amoranto, left at Banawe or D. Tuazon, right at Maria Clara or Dapitan to destination.

Route 3: From North Luzon Expressway Exit at Mindanao Avenue Access Ramp, right at Mindanao Avenue, left at Congressional, right at Luzon Avenue, take Bridge crossing Commonwealth Avenue, Katipunan Avenue, C-5 to destination Route 4: From Quezon City to Makati Take N. Domingo, left at Blumentritt-Kalentong, left at Manalo St., right at Mariano, right at Luna Mencias, right at Shaw Boulevard, left at Acacia Lane, right at F. Ortigas, left at P. Cruz, left at F. Blumentritt, Coronado, take Mandaluyong-Makati Bridge or take Barangka Drive Pantalleon - Estrella Bridge, to destination.

Route 5: From Quezon City to Makati From E. Rodriguez, left at Matimyas - Plaza Noli to Fajardo left at V.G. Cruz, right at Lardizabal, left at M. Dela Fuente, right at Ramon Magsaysay Boulevard, Nagtahan to Pres. Quirino, left at South Superhighway to destination.

And Route 6: From North Luzon Expressway Right at Balintawak Cloverleaf to EDSA going to Monumento, left at A. De Jesus St. (8th Street), left at C-3, right at A. Bonifacio, take Mayon Avenue, Welcome Rotunda to destination.