HPG chief: DPWH installing concrete barriers on EDSA

After a wayward bus plowed through orange plastic barriers along EDSA on Monday, Philippine National Police-Highway Patrol Group Director C/Supt. Arnold Gunnacao clarified in an interview that the Department of Public Works and Highways is already installing permanent concrete barriers on the national highway.

In an interview with “News To Go” on Tuesday, Gunnacao said that the DPWH has been installing concrete barriers along EDSA-Cubao, and will continue through Shaw Boulevard until Ayala Avenue in Makati City.

He added that the agency started with the plastic barriers to be able to make adjustments regarding openings for vehicles, and to orient motorists to the new boundaries.

“Initially, hindi concrete barrier dahil magkakaroon pa ng adjustments dapat,” Gunnacao said. “Tinitignan natin kung saan ilalagay ang opening slots. Pero eventually, nag-produce na ng concrete barriers ang DPWH. Sa katunayan, nailagay na sa kahabaan ng Cubao. Mababa pa lang, hindi katulad ng orange barriers.”

Gunnacao added, “Eventually, ang gagawin ng DPWH, lahat ng bus lanes ay lalagyan na ng concrete barriers.”

Gunnacao said that measures are also being made to ensure that the barriers currently in use are visible to motorists even at night.

"'Yung mga blue [barriers], talagang ipinapatanggal ko o kaya pinapa-alternate ko sa orange barriers kasi hindi talaga nakikita ang blue [pag gabi]," he said. "Yung mga hindi nakikita pinapalagyan ko ng sticker. Actually, hindi naman namin trabaho iyon, nirerequest lang namin sa DPWH at sa MMDA na lagyan ng sticker. Pero yung iba na hindi nagagawan ng paraan agad, yung Highway Patrol na ang gumagawa ng paraan para maging reflectorized,” he said.

Aside from the concrete barriers, steel fences are also set to be installed along EDSA.

The project is set to be carried out in the next two months.

“Nag-start na and continuous ito within two months' time. Gagawin ng DPWH depende sa dating ng supplies at pag-manufacture ng steel fence,” Gunnacao said.

The HPG is also helping the MMDA investigate the bus incident.

On Tuesday, the Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board served a Show Cause Order on JoannaJesh Transport Corp., giving it five days to explain why its Certificates of Public Convenience should not be canceled or suspended for its unit's "alleged racing with another bus" along EDSA, resulting in the scattering of the barriers.

Once identified, the driver may be charged with damage to property and reckless driving.

Gunnacao reminds motorists, “'Wag tayong makipag-unahan sa kapwa driver, dahil ang resulta lang ay gitgitan at heavier traffic. Maging defensive driver po tayo. Ang barriers na ito ay paraan upang madisiplina ang mga motorista, kaya sana sumunod tayo sa tamang linya para hindi na makaharang sa kalsada.” — Bianca Rose Dabu/BM, GMA News