MMDA: Spiral staircase at Ortigas-EDSA footbridge meant for provincial bus passengers

MANILA, Philippines— The Metro Manila Development Authority has defended a spiral staircase at a footbridge in Ortigas-EDSA after social media users questioned the design.

MMDA General Manager Jojo Garcia said the spiral staircase was built in 2008 and was designed that way due to limited space. Filipinos taking the spiral staircase criticized the structure saying it made them feel “dizzy” and it is “too narrow.”

Natawa ako dun sa spiral na hagdan sa edsa, mumsh nakakaliyo nga naman nung dumaan kami duon

— Hapon(@RonalynLaloma) November 9, 2018

“With the limited space sa lugar na 'yan, 'yan na siguro ang na-design ng engineer na mas effective para maiwasan ang aksidente," said in an interview with GMA News.

(With the limited space there, that was probably the most effective design to avoid accidents)

Garcia said the spiral staircase was constructed for passengers of provincial buses.

"'Pag sinabi mong unloading ng mga provincial bus, ibig sabihin 'di puwedeng mag-load. So 'pag nag-unload ka, bababa 'yan, aakyat so walang reason ang taong bumaba kasi 'di sila puwede mag-load," Garcia explained.

(That's for unloading, that means no loading. So, when you unload, passengers get off and go up the staircase, so there is no reason for someone to go down the staircase because buses cannot load)

Last week, the MMDA said it is eyeing to remove all provincial bus terminals along EDSA by January 2019. Garcia said doing so would ease traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

Due to this plan, the MMDA said the criticized spiral staircase would also be removed.

Complaints over the spiral staircase of the Ortigas-EDSA footbridge resurfaced after two footbridges in Quezon City with steep structure were slammed by online users and pedestrians.

Some social media users already complained about the criticized spiral staircase years ago.

Spiral staircase or round-about in the middle of EDSA? #mixeduse #urban #urbanplanning #cities #Manila #youhadonejob pic.twitter.com/T0AVPwUvTs

— Andrew Zubiri (@jadz) September 20, 2015

Spiral staircase in Edsa. Explain. pic.twitter.com/VDsyLTAPB1

— Joan Cortez Pasco (@jownpasco) July 11, 2013