MANILA, Philippines – Hinimok ng Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) ang publiko na sumakay na lamang ng bus, jeepney at iba pang pampublikong transportasyon para mapaluwag ang EDSA ngayong holiday season.
Sa panayam, sinabi ni MMDA Swift Traffic Action Group Commander Edison Nebrija na ang mga hakbang katulad ng carpooling at shuttle service ay makatutulong din para mabawasan ang mga sasakyan sa kalsada.
“Yung mga magchri-Christmas party outside your office, kindly carpool. Di kayo tag-iisa na sasakyan. We see other companies encouraging [carpooling],” aniya.
“Paano magpupunta sa EDSA carousel? Pano [magpunta] from EDSA carousel to my office? Doon sila nadidiscourage eh. Siguro we could do something, magkaroon tayo ng common pick up [like] a shuttle to the station… Palagay ko if you can come up with this, madi-discourage na yung iba. They would rather take the train than magdala ng kotse,” dagdag pa nito.
Samantala, ibinahagi rin niya ang usapin sa pagitan nina Department of Public Works and Highways (DPWH) Secretary Vince Dizon at MMDA Chairman Atty. Romando Artes kaugnay sa proseso ng EDSA rehabilitation.
Sa rehabilitasyon, isinama nina Artes at Dizon ang planong pagsusulong ng mas malawak na paggamit ng mass transportation na inaasahang mararanasan sa mga panahong isasagawa ito.
“In terms of expansion, I do not think there’s still more space to expand. Ang maganda dito, yung paguusapan ni Secretary Vince and Chairman Artes to whatever plans they will be adapting to encourage people to take more public transportation. I think that’s something to look out for kasi yun talaga ang kailangan natin, for people to ditch their cars and take mass public transportation,” ani Nebrija.
“Magandang way forward [ang EDSA rehabilitation] because we are supposed to be moving people and not cars… I do not want to pre-empt their talk. Antayin na lang natin because we need to rehab EDSA. Part of the rehabilitation is traffic congestion. But the thing is your government is working to address all these issues once and for all,” dagdag niya. RNT/JGC
