COA blames MMDA for traffic woes

MANILA, Philippines – The Commission on Audit (COA) has blamed the Metropolitan Manila Development Authority for the worsening traffic problem in the metropolis, saying the MMDA has failed to do its job.

In a 2015 audit report released yesterday, state auditors said the MMDA, although given only a small budget of P1.479 million for traffic management last year, failed to optimize the use of the funds to address traffic woes.

The report said the absence of detailed plans on traffic management along with measures suggested by various studies on transport and traffic management contributed to the MMDA’s failure.

 “The traffic situation in Metro Manila had been a perennial problem, which worsened through time. Media reports and opinion of the public from day to day reflect dissatisfaction on Metro Manila’s traffic condition and on the inability of the MMDA to manage traffic,” state auditors said.

 The COA said the upgrading of the traffic signal system, which was allocated a P391.37-million budget, was only 18.5 percent implemented as of December last year.

 “Traffic congestion is a problem that affects national interest such as the economy and environment as well as public health and safety,” state auditors said.

The audit team said the MMDA’s failure to discharge its functions under the law led to random and disorganized solutions in handling traffic problems.

JICA proposals backed

The MMDA welcomed the five solutions proposed by the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) to address traffic congestion in the metropolis.

Crisanto Saruca Jr., chief of the MMDA Traffic Discipline Office, said the proposals of JICA are good inputs since the decongestion of Metro Manila roads was among the priorities of the Duterte administration.

JICA proposed a restudy of the gateway airport options for Metro Manila, the feasibility of a Mega-Manila subway system, a reform of the road-based public transport system, secondary mass transport system lines and a redevelopment of the congested Manila North Harbor.

As a mid-term solution to the traffic problem, JICA proposed relocating Ninoy Aquino International Airport.

The study also proposed connecting the metropolis’ different central business districts by a subway system.

“These proposals are good,” Saruca said.

The MMDA earlier identified seven choke points along EDSA and the roads leading to Manila’s North Harbor: the Circumferential Road-3 (C-3 Road), A. Mabini street, Dagat-Dagatan Avenue, North Bay Boulevard and Radial Road 10 (R-10).

Saruca, however, said the government must consider existing support structures if the airport and port operations are transferred outside Metro Manila.

“These include hotels, transportation, immigration and Customs teams for airports,” he said.

Colorum vehicles

Meanwhile, in a bid to rid major thoroughfares of illegal vehicles, the MMDA resumed yesterday its anti-colorum operations in Metro Manila.

The MMDA initiated the campaign in coordination with the Philippine National Police Highway Patrol Group, Land Transportation Office and Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board.

Six composite teams were deployed to apprehend colorum vans and out-of-line public utility jeepneys at the Araneta Center in Cubao, Panay Avenue, Centris and Trinoma, all in Quezon City; Monumento in Caloocan, and Coastal Road.

Twelve unregistered vehicles and eight colorum vans were impounded by the LTFRB during the operations. – Michael Punongbayan, Mike Frialde, Robertzon Ramirez