EDSA traffic heavier after NCR shifted to Alert Level 2 —MMDA

The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) on Monday said traffic on EDSA became heavier after the National Capital Region (NCR) shifted to Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 3.

In a radio interview, MMDA officer-in-charge General Manager Romando Artes said that from light, traffic on EDSA became moderate to slow moving especially during the afternoon rush hours.

“May kaunting pagsisikip na simula noong nagbaba tayo sa Alert Level 2 mula Alert Level 3 (There was already a slight slowing of traffic when we de-escalated to Alert Level 2 from Alert Level 3),” he said.

According to Artes, the daily volume of vehicles on EDSA now is at 345,000. Before the COVID-19 pandemic, around 405,882 vehicles were seen using the major thoroughfare, the MMDA said.

Asked about reinstating the regular number coding, Artes said the MMDA is continuously monitoring the traffic situation.

On December 1, 2021, the MMDA started to implement an afternoon number coding scheme in NCR, which only covers private vehicles, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on weekdays, excluding holidays.

The Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) placed NCR back under Alert Level 2 from February 1 to 15 amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

Artes said NCR mayors have agreed to extend the Alert Level 2 in Metro Manila until the end of February.

The Metro Manila Council Resolution 22-04 signed by the mayors urges the IATF to extend Alert Level 2 in the NCR until February 28, 2022. —KG, GMA News