Fences will stay — MMDA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has no plans of removing its steel fences along EDSA despite being blamed for accidents which resulted in damage to private vehicles yesterday and Wednesday.

"It’s not the fault of the fences. The fences are just standing there, the vehicles are the ones moving," MMDA General Manager Robert Nacianceno told The STAR yesterday.

Nacianceno pointed out that the steel barriers on EDSA have been erected in the proper place, have the right measurements, and are safe unless vehicles intentionally hit them and cause them to fall.

He maintained that the pink fences are meant to control buses and force them to use designated yellow lanes so private vehicles can use the other lanes.

"The fences will stay," he stressed when asked if the MMDA is looking at other means to control vehicular traffic along EDSA.

Nacianceno accused frustrated bus drivers of intentionally trying to sabotage the project by hitting the steel fences.

In fact, the MMDA is bent on filing charges against the bus drivers responsible for the collapse of a row of pink fences in the last two days.

Nacianceno said criminal charges of malicious mischief and damage to government property will be slapped against three bus drivers who intentionally caused the fences to fall.

Those to be sued include Nick Lozada of Marikina Auto Line; Rey Almogera of Pascual Liner; and Rudy Segundo of Vill 5000.

"We will not tolerate such acts. We installed the steel fences to force buses to stay within their designated lanes, but they insist on using the other lanes," Nacianceno said.

At least five vehicles were damaged when a portion of the fences near Connecticut street in San Juan collapsed after being hit by a bus last Wednesday afternoon.

The incident caused heavy traffic at the southbound lane of EDSA. The damaged vehicles included a Mitsubishi Pajero, two Nissan Sentras, a Toyota Corolla and a Honda CRV.

The MMDA wants the bus drivers or the bus companies responsible for the incident to pay for the repair of the damaged vehicles.

Another portion of the steel fences along the northbound lane in front of the SM Megamall collapsed yesterday after it was hit by a closed delivery van, resulting in a monstrous traffic jam from Shaw Boulevard in Mandaluyong all the way to Guadalupe in Makati City.

Meanwhile, Traffic Operations Center (TOC) chief Angelito Vergel de Dios said the fences were erected to improve EDSA’s yellow lane scheme.

Fences, he explained, control buses and keep them from going out of their designated lanes, which gives faster vehicles the exclusive right to use the outer lanes.

De Dios said the steel railings were designed to withstand strong winds and light impact, but are not strong enough to take an intentional hit from a bus or truck.

"If the fences fall down without any reason, then it should be the fault of the MMDA. But it is clear that the fences were rammed by buses which is why they fell," he explained.

De Dios said the MMDA will look into ways of improving the steel fence project, including adjustments in the designated entry and exit points for private vehicles.