MMDA vows stricter implementation of yellow lane policy

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday said it will be stricter in implementing the yellow lane policy to ease traffic across the metro.

According to a report by Cecille Villarosa on GMA News' Unang Balita, traffic started to build up along EDSA southbound lane as early as 4 a.m., adding that some of the lines demarcating yellow lanes on roads have already faded.

"Marami na kasing reblocking na naganap sa lugar na 'to ng EDSA. Magmula diyan sa may Kamuning hanggang Aurora tunnel. Makikita niyo wala na talagang mga lanes, nabura 'yan sa mga reblocking," EDSA traffic chief Bong Nebrija said.

"'Yung mga enforcers natin nagmimistulang mga human barricades para sa gano'n i-segregate 'yung bus sa mga private vehicles. Ito kasing alignment na gusto namin para 'yung mga city buses nasa service road lang palagi," he added.

According to Nebrija, around 2,000 motorists are apprehended daily by MMDA personnel for violating the yellow lane policy.

Of this number, 70 percent are private vehicles.

"So 'wag po natin sisihin 'yung mga bus drivers kasi karamihan po ng nahuhuli namin, ng violation ng yellow lane ay private motor vehicles," Nebrija said.

Under the yellow lane policy, the first two outermost lanes of EDSA are for the use of city buses.

According to the MMDA website, private vehicles may use the yellow lane "when they are about to turn—provided that they start shifting lanes upon seeing the transition lane (broken white lines painted diagonally), that you can see around 50 meters away from an intersection." —Anna Felicia Bajo/KG, GMA News